Sunday, July 29, 2007
Successful Attempt
On friday, I showed my kids a slideshow of pictures that we've taken the last few weeks of school. Today, I just completed a DVD version, with a menu and title page. Very exciting.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Teaching is small victories
Today was it. The last hoorah. It's all over. I kept my eyes dry, but I will miss those kids dearly. They don't understand what I've learned from them. Really, its been great. I have emails from most of them, I would like it very much if they kept in touch. I am hoping that one day next year I will be able to go in and see them. That, that would be really cool. The cards they gave to me are priceless, and I wouldn't trade this experience for the world.
Teaching is small victories.
- Its getting that one kid who never writes anything to write 3 sentences.
- Its getting that one shy kid, to raise his hand in front of the whole class.
- It's the hugs at the end of the day.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
So much to tell
With the few days that I left with these kids, I am realizing each day how much I have taken from this experience. These kids are my first class, and I will miss them a lot. We have been through ups and downs... And today was certainly an up. Just in the last two weeks, I have finally felt like a real teacher to these kids. And... I have certainly have learned quite a bit from them. Today, I leave a few words of wisdom that many of my students teach me everyday.
~Don't take things for granted.
~Appreciate the people and things you have in life.
~Kids are a lot smarter than we give them credit for.
~Don't try to hide reality from kids. They will see right through you.
~LISTEN. This is something we ask kids to do all day long, but find it hard to do as adults.
~They don't want their teacher to be their friend. They want an adult who shows they care.
~Pulling kids aside to say how great their behavior has been is a much better way to manage your class before it gets out of control. Kids like to hear good things about themselves.
~Tell your kids they are smart, and that you value them. Because you may be the only adult that tells them this.
~Don't take things for granted.
~Appreciate the people and things you have in life.
~Kids are a lot smarter than we give them credit for.
~Don't try to hide reality from kids. They will see right through you.
~LISTEN. This is something we ask kids to do all day long, but find it hard to do as adults.
~They don't want their teacher to be their friend. They want an adult who shows they care.
~Pulling kids aside to say how great their behavior has been is a much better way to manage your class before it gets out of control. Kids like to hear good things about themselves.
~Tell your kids they are smart, and that you value them. Because you may be the only adult that tells them this.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Wow
There is just so much to tell. And I know when I look back at this experience, I will regret not writing more down, but so I am forcing myself to write now, even though really, I want to go to bed.
I cant even explain the experience I have had in the last few weeks. I can start with Friday. Friday of last week was interesting. Mrs. S had to call social services for a student, so she was unexpectedly out of the classroom from 10-12:30. Wow. what a wake up call. I was a teacher on my own. And boy did the 6th graders have a great time. The ran a circus, and really tried their hardest to give me grief. They could tell I was flustered, but I tried my best to maintain composure. It was difficult. I went home in agony, wondering what I would do with these kids and how I would reach them. One in particular is an instigator of it all and really knew how to get under my skin.
On a good note, the student is with relatives in another state, free from harm. At least I went home with that. That helped me sleep that weekend.
On Friday afternoon, I really questioned my decision to go into education. What am I doing here? I said, and I thought about it all weekend long.
Then, with a more positive attitude,after a night of survey writing and activity planning, I walk into school to find out my teacher fell sick to a sinus infection. Now's your time to shine, says Mr. G, and I was flying solo once again. Lets just say Monday went better than friday because they had more to do, and although Joe*gave me trouble like Friday... Not nearly as much... 7th graders are my haven class, and although there are more of them than 6th graders, they are more mature, and I can joke around with them a little bit more and then get right back into my material.
Tuesday, I came prepared to fly solo again, not knowing whether my co teacher would be in or not. And although the 6th graders were antsy and ready to be done with school, they got through it, and man was it a learning experience for me.
No! You can not go to the bathroom!
Rearrange seats to gain control.
Try and spark their interests.
Get them moving any way you can.
Wednesday, Mrs. S was back in action, and the kids were almost as happy to see her as I was. haha. They worked on some things, and Mrs. S and I scratched our heads to keep their attention for the next week and a half. Number the Stars for the 7th graders, who were really interested in the Holocaust and its effects. And short stories and spelling for the 6th graders, who didnt like the book we were originally reading, because they know that they can not talk about their lack of documents to be here. The Puerto Rican children dont worry, but the Mexicans have tend to quiet down during these discussions.
And then there was today. Before school started, I pulled Joe* aside to praise him for his excellent behavior yesterday, and that I was proud of him, an hoped it continued. He grinned, and walked in to the class, too cool to let me know that he was happy to hear my positive comment. Then we played a spelling game, and all the kids participated, even though some sulked because they didnt remember the spelling words from the week before. But the boys were the least disruptive I have ever seen--- even when Mrs. S is teaching. That made me so happy, and really set up the tone for the rest of the day. It was today, that for the first time, I felt like a teacher. 7th graders listened attentively to Dr. Suess's Star Belly Sneetches... And we compared it to the Holocaust and racism before we moved to Number the Stars.
My 7th graders are the ones that worry me the most, and they come to me with stories about gangs and violence on the streets. We talk a lot about what gangs are, and how they treat you, and the bad decision it is to join them... And while some are honest about not getting involved, the few that are most at risk... They know what to say to teachers...
Then recessed happened.
As I sat with a student who is eager to learn and has learned English incredibly well in the last year, anther student came to join us and said: Mrs C! Whats the worst thing you ever did? And I mentioned some thing that were I was not proud of as a 7th grader.. (albeit innocent and well mannered when you compare it to these kids) And he then continues with "Has anyone ever asked you do take the blame for something you didnt do?" When I prodded further, he got up to play soccer, so I am keeping my eye on him.
And from there, it was all a big blur. Rachel* and Megan* were an hour late to class.... for the second time this week, and their homeroom teacher had enough. He was them before class started, so he knew they were there... Then, because they have so many problems with them before, he sent them to the principal, and she kicked them out. As we were heading in from recess, I see a big group of 7th graders crowded around a bench, where Megan and Rachel were crying. It was here I found out that the girls had been kicked out... And we had a long talk about the colors they decided to wear that day, along with a group of 8th graders wearing the opposite color association. They both denied involvement with the local gang. And I hope that remains true. The 8th graders were wearing the the rivial colors, and started to confront the 7th graders. It turned into a huge ordeal, but in the end, no one was hurt, and a fight was stopped before it started. The principal stood her grounds that the girls were kicked out, and they hugged me goodbye today. I gave one my email address and said to keep in touch, because I cared about the girls very much and wanted to see them succeed. Mrs. S said that she is going to talk to the principal to try to convince her to overturn this decision. The girls live on the worst block, with a lot of street fights and gang activity, and their behaviors in the last week have shown us they are really at risk. If they get kicked out of school, the likelyhood of them joining the gang skyrockets and their chances of going to college, or even living to see 22 drops dramatically.
And even with all this mess... Today, Today was the day I finally felt like a teacher to these kids. The come to me, ask me questions, tell me their stories, and joke around with me. Today. Today was the day.
≈
* To protect identities, all names have been changed*
I cant even explain the experience I have had in the last few weeks. I can start with Friday. Friday of last week was interesting. Mrs. S had to call social services for a student, so she was unexpectedly out of the classroom from 10-12:30. Wow. what a wake up call. I was a teacher on my own. And boy did the 6th graders have a great time. The ran a circus, and really tried their hardest to give me grief. They could tell I was flustered, but I tried my best to maintain composure. It was difficult. I went home in agony, wondering what I would do with these kids and how I would reach them. One in particular is an instigator of it all and really knew how to get under my skin.
On a good note, the student is with relatives in another state, free from harm. At least I went home with that. That helped me sleep that weekend.
On Friday afternoon, I really questioned my decision to go into education. What am I doing here? I said, and I thought about it all weekend long.
Then, with a more positive attitude,after a night of survey writing and activity planning, I walk into school to find out my teacher fell sick to a sinus infection. Now's your time to shine, says Mr. G, and I was flying solo once again. Lets just say Monday went better than friday because they had more to do, and although Joe*gave me trouble like Friday... Not nearly as much... 7th graders are my haven class, and although there are more of them than 6th graders, they are more mature, and I can joke around with them a little bit more and then get right back into my material.
Tuesday, I came prepared to fly solo again, not knowing whether my co teacher would be in or not. And although the 6th graders were antsy and ready to be done with school, they got through it, and man was it a learning experience for me.
No! You can not go to the bathroom!
Rearrange seats to gain control.
Try and spark their interests.
Get them moving any way you can.
Wednesday, Mrs. S was back in action, and the kids were almost as happy to see her as I was. haha. They worked on some things, and Mrs. S and I scratched our heads to keep their attention for the next week and a half. Number the Stars for the 7th graders, who were really interested in the Holocaust and its effects. And short stories and spelling for the 6th graders, who didnt like the book we were originally reading, because they know that they can not talk about their lack of documents to be here. The Puerto Rican children dont worry, but the Mexicans have tend to quiet down during these discussions.
And then there was today. Before school started, I pulled Joe* aside to praise him for his excellent behavior yesterday, and that I was proud of him, an hoped it continued. He grinned, and walked in to the class, too cool to let me know that he was happy to hear my positive comment. Then we played a spelling game, and all the kids participated, even though some sulked because they didnt remember the spelling words from the week before. But the boys were the least disruptive I have ever seen--- even when Mrs. S is teaching. That made me so happy, and really set up the tone for the rest of the day. It was today, that for the first time, I felt like a teacher. 7th graders listened attentively to Dr. Suess's Star Belly Sneetches... And we compared it to the Holocaust and racism before we moved to Number the Stars.
My 7th graders are the ones that worry me the most, and they come to me with stories about gangs and violence on the streets. We talk a lot about what gangs are, and how they treat you, and the bad decision it is to join them... And while some are honest about not getting involved, the few that are most at risk... They know what to say to teachers...
Then recessed happened.
As I sat with a student who is eager to learn and has learned English incredibly well in the last year, anther student came to join us and said: Mrs C! Whats the worst thing you ever did? And I mentioned some thing that were I was not proud of as a 7th grader.. (albeit innocent and well mannered when you compare it to these kids) And he then continues with "Has anyone ever asked you do take the blame for something you didnt do?" When I prodded further, he got up to play soccer, so I am keeping my eye on him.
And from there, it was all a big blur. Rachel* and Megan* were an hour late to class.... for the second time this week, and their homeroom teacher had enough. He was them before class started, so he knew they were there... Then, because they have so many problems with them before, he sent them to the principal, and she kicked them out. As we were heading in from recess, I see a big group of 7th graders crowded around a bench, where Megan and Rachel were crying. It was here I found out that the girls had been kicked out... And we had a long talk about the colors they decided to wear that day, along with a group of 8th graders wearing the opposite color association. They both denied involvement with the local gang. And I hope that remains true. The 8th graders were wearing the the rivial colors, and started to confront the 7th graders. It turned into a huge ordeal, but in the end, no one was hurt, and a fight was stopped before it started. The principal stood her grounds that the girls were kicked out, and they hugged me goodbye today. I gave one my email address and said to keep in touch, because I cared about the girls very much and wanted to see them succeed. Mrs. S said that she is going to talk to the principal to try to convince her to overturn this decision. The girls live on the worst block, with a lot of street fights and gang activity, and their behaviors in the last week have shown us they are really at risk. If they get kicked out of school, the likelyhood of them joining the gang skyrockets and their chances of going to college, or even living to see 22 drops dramatically.
And even with all this mess... Today, Today was the day I finally felt like a teacher to these kids. The come to me, ask me questions, tell me their stories, and joke around with me. Today. Today was the day.
≈
* To protect identities, all names have been changed*
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Short Hiatus
After a short hiatus from teaching, I am back in the groove of things teaching summer school in Southwest Detroit. I teach at the Academy of the Americas, a truly unique school that allows students to embrace the advantage of being bilingual... And I am not just talking about kids who speak Spanish at home. These kids take Spanish all the way through 8th grade. They read, write and speak in both languages. The school is amazing at incorporating Spanish into the curriculum. The kids receive instruction in both languages in all subjects, alternating by year. And just like native English speakers take English class, the students must also take Spanish all the way through 8th grade, when the students must leave the academy and move onto high school.
Because of my white skin and freckle face, all the kids associate me with English, many not knowing I could understand their conversations until much later in the week. When they do find out I speak Spanish, they test me, to see if I really know it, or if I can ask directions to the library, or order Taco Bell.
English is very much the language of official business to the kids in class. For the most part, the students talk to the other teacher, me, and each other in English, with the exception of the few that don't feel comfortable in their English skills, or when they don't want the teacher to understand them. Most throughly embrace their ability to speak both languages throughly, and "play" with Spanglish on occasion... One boy is experiencing culture rejection, and refuses to speak Spanish. Its very sad to see it, because it's his heritage, and it's his culture, but right now he doesn't see any value in it. He understands it throughly, but will not speak it, always responding in English. I believe he speaks Spanish at home, but in school, not one word of Spanish crosses his lips.
MRULE culminates itself in this urban classroom. The boys in class get much more attention than the girls, because they are loud, get out of their seats and are clearly off task. Unfortunately, its easy to ignore the girls, even those that really need extra help... Because they are quiet, can copy off each other, and usually stay in their seats. I have talked to one student in particular about using the word "A-rab"... And brought to his attention the fact that he doesn't like to hear others call him other racial names or he hears political campaigns stating that "Mexicans should just go home" He saw my point. And we decided that they are cool Arabs, Latinos, White, and Black people. And un-cool ones of each as well.
The girls tell me they don't feel comfortable around people that aren't their race. What? I don't feel comfortable around people who aren't of my culture. AH.. even 12 year olds know better than to pull out the race card. Outside on the playground, one little girl asks me to take off my sunglasses to see my eyes. What color are they? Are they blue???? And it was quite a disappointment I saw in her eyes when she looked up to me and saw the color of her own eyes. Brown. "I like blue eyes, they are pretty" The Bluest Eye is a story of reality. Even in 2007. Thank you Toni Morrison.
I have had the experience of teaching this week, and its been a struggle, but a lot of fun. The kids are great, but they will test you, and they want you to know that they will respect you only when you respect them. These kids are so real. They know they are growing up in one of the worst parts of Detroit, and they don't hide it. They have grown up way before their time and simply have experienced a lot in the 12 years of their lives. Most experience hunger on a regular occasion, most hear bullets at night, and a lot of my kids don't even need to be in summer school... But come anyway to be safe and stay off the streets. All the kids personally know family and friends in jail and gangs, and the entire school is still recovering from the loss of 8th grader in gang violence.
My short week has been very interesting and I have really learned a lot. I don't suspect coming out the same teacher I was at the beginning of this fellowship.
Each day when I drive home, I pray that my kids make it home safely, and that thank God for what I've got. Because once you've seen what others have, you couldn't possibly be so ungrateful. My kids haven't seen houses the size of mine beside the houses they see on TV and in movies.
And here is my final words from a student about Jamestown:
"The problem with Jamestown was that it didn't have any cash money."
And another little one that was saying goodbye:
Yo, see ya later teach!
The weekends are bittersweet, its nice to not have the drive down, but the nervousness I carry when I don't know what my kids are up to and if they are in trouble, I just hope these kids all make it through their weekends safe and healthy. Because I couldn't ask for anything else. For these kids, the weekends are long.
Because of my white skin and freckle face, all the kids associate me with English, many not knowing I could understand their conversations until much later in the week. When they do find out I speak Spanish, they test me, to see if I really know it, or if I can ask directions to the library, or order Taco Bell.
English is very much the language of official business to the kids in class. For the most part, the students talk to the other teacher, me, and each other in English, with the exception of the few that don't feel comfortable in their English skills, or when they don't want the teacher to understand them. Most throughly embrace their ability to speak both languages throughly, and "play" with Spanglish on occasion... One boy is experiencing culture rejection, and refuses to speak Spanish. Its very sad to see it, because it's his heritage, and it's his culture, but right now he doesn't see any value in it. He understands it throughly, but will not speak it, always responding in English. I believe he speaks Spanish at home, but in school, not one word of Spanish crosses his lips.
MRULE culminates itself in this urban classroom. The boys in class get much more attention than the girls, because they are loud, get out of their seats and are clearly off task. Unfortunately, its easy to ignore the girls, even those that really need extra help... Because they are quiet, can copy off each other, and usually stay in their seats. I have talked to one student in particular about using the word "A-rab"... And brought to his attention the fact that he doesn't like to hear others call him other racial names or he hears political campaigns stating that "Mexicans should just go home" He saw my point. And we decided that they are cool Arabs, Latinos, White, and Black people. And un-cool ones of each as well.
The girls tell me they don't feel comfortable around people that aren't their race. What? I don't feel comfortable around people who aren't of my culture. AH.. even 12 year olds know better than to pull out the race card. Outside on the playground, one little girl asks me to take off my sunglasses to see my eyes. What color are they? Are they blue???? And it was quite a disappointment I saw in her eyes when she looked up to me and saw the color of her own eyes. Brown. "I like blue eyes, they are pretty" The Bluest Eye is a story of reality. Even in 2007. Thank you Toni Morrison.
I have had the experience of teaching this week, and its been a struggle, but a lot of fun. The kids are great, but they will test you, and they want you to know that they will respect you only when you respect them. These kids are so real. They know they are growing up in one of the worst parts of Detroit, and they don't hide it. They have grown up way before their time and simply have experienced a lot in the 12 years of their lives. Most experience hunger on a regular occasion, most hear bullets at night, and a lot of my kids don't even need to be in summer school... But come anyway to be safe and stay off the streets. All the kids personally know family and friends in jail and gangs, and the entire school is still recovering from the loss of 8th grader in gang violence.
My short week has been very interesting and I have really learned a lot. I don't suspect coming out the same teacher I was at the beginning of this fellowship.
Each day when I drive home, I pray that my kids make it home safely, and that thank God for what I've got. Because once you've seen what others have, you couldn't possibly be so ungrateful. My kids haven't seen houses the size of mine beside the houses they see on TV and in movies.
And here is my final words from a student about Jamestown:
"The problem with Jamestown was that it didn't have any cash money."
And another little one that was saying goodbye:
Yo, see ya later teach!
The weekends are bittersweet, its nice to not have the drive down, but the nervousness I carry when I don't know what my kids are up to and if they are in trouble, I just hope these kids all make it through their weekends safe and healthy. Because I couldn't ask for anything else. For these kids, the weekends are long.
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