3rd Week of Being an Actual Teacher

Tomorrow marks my 3rd week of being a real teacher. I love my kids, love the job, love the title. Hate the workload. I know that it is the first year and the work load will seem to be lighter but then I get tired. I am trying to learn about being adult let alone a teacher. But I will accomplish this.

I have a homeroom 804. A conglomerate of busy and beautiful and ambitious young people. I have a couple issues that these 8th graders are facing most face that I did not realize hinder teaching as much until recent. I am trying to teach them to enjoy their individuality but love each  other. They bicker more than 4th graders. They have attitudes and hissy fits but then my 8th grade team, my Team Leader and my supportive parents make sure the students learn past the drama. I was one of the few Teach for America corps members placed in a well managed school but my kids still come from similar positions. They like me and I'm not doing bad I can do better however. I have to better for them. It is a lot of pressure however. My organization skills are improving but have a long way to go. Often, I amuse myself at the thought of sleep.

 I need sleep but don't sleep because I think or facebook or blog but i avoid work. It is dangerous because I am really avoiding failure.

I read somewhere that the fear of struggling is worse than struggling itself. I know this has been my problem and I know what to do get over it. Just do. Keep pushing. Don't think just do. Make each move count. Be intentional and graceful. I will need support and will lean on my support but until I will find freedom in my peace

I love Philly but miss my friends and my sense of belonging. I feel like I am playing a role while trying to find my balance among new friendships, living situations, jobs, etc. I am learning however and teaching what ever I learn. I just don't to see my children fail because of my imbalance. I must focus. That is all. O the struggles of a new teacher...

End of Institute....reflections

Here are my updates of the last two weeks of Teach for America Boot Camp/ Training/ HELL

Week 4

I am losing confidence in myself as an effective math teacher. My lack of organization skills has finally caught up with me. Denisse turned from my shining start to my trouble student. THis is what happens when you learn about polynomials. My best student decided that because she didn't get ONE problem on our midterm, it wasn't worth finishing so she walked out of class. Girls and their attitude I SWEAR. I do know how it feels to think you grown and be rebellious but these girls act like someone killed their kitten by telling them to check their work. Shakyra got a 96%on her test. She doesn't know that if she calmed down that could have been a 100%. Man, Attitude can get in the way of Altitude....I must make a poster of that statement.

Attendence went down after our midterm and kids started coming in late. A rumor has went around that all they must had to do is show up and then they can pass. Two of my girls got boyfriends (Novios). They are so distracted by that and it scares me.

I have to do a better job of letting them see what counts and what inside them will get them far. I called parents, wrote inspirational notes and gave compliments but I am losing focus and messing up my instruction. My lesson plans aren't as strong or clear so my students were getting confused easy and frustrated. Frustration leads to talking. Talking leads to misbehavior. This was week 4. One good day when they tried to learn and got the lesson

However all my girls (except Shakyra) are coming to tutoring sessions and are showing great improvements...they seem so nice and focused when tutoring...gosh

Week 5 (Still happening..) 

Monday we took our final. Results: Everyone improved but Nathalie and Ilayma did not pass. Everyone else surpassed their goal and are receptive to math. Denisse had the greatest improvement and wonderful work ethic when she is focused. Ricardo, Jose and Shakyra could've aced it. Attitude stops altitude. I guess the test was too long for Jose. Ricardo was going to fast and Shakyra didn't wanna check her work.

I hope they carry the hard work to next year because we decided to pass all the students (even though I think Nathalie should've stayed back again. She needs to have another run and a good one. I wish she was my student) Overall I'm realizing to start strict and stay strict until they see you will not let them do worse than their best, and then push them to do better. This is what leaders are made of. I want my students to leave as leaders.

Tomorrow is our last day as a class. I will miss them and hope they learned how to learn in my class. I hope to see them again.

Personal

I got a new apartment! I changed my hair....look!

I am growing as a person and realizing my hindering flaws. I am changing for the better. Becoming more

"grown".  I have a lot to learn. I wanna be a better teacher and a more confident woman. It will come but till then...I gotta find a bed and get back on my workout plan

Induction...Week 3 (with are review of week 1 and 2)

Hello. I am so very sorry this post is so late in the game.

I am extremely busy with Teach for America Boot Camp also known as Institute. I love Philly. It has great culture but also has hella stuff to fix. This is my third week in Institute, 4th week in Philly, end of my 2nd week as a teacher. I must say. I have learned alot. First, a quick review of institute (from what I remember)

Week 1

There are no black men in Teach for America which makes it really easy to focus on working out and reading and sessions. I met my Corps member advisor...and originally thought she was crazy for TfA. I realized that all that non-required pre-institute work was actually required (dammit). I am so sure that I have the best Corps Cultural leader ever because he gave me all his ones from last year. THe school I will be teaching at is called Edison High. It is 95% latino and summer school is mixed with two other schools. It is your typical high school but has atypical students who prove that age ain't nothing but a number. I was partnered with a Pakistani guy who will be teaching the same students as I . He is sweet. We were told we would  be teaching Algebra I...I figured it will be easy

Week 2


Teaching Algebra 2 is NOT easy. Not for me anyway. I guess all these years of overcomplicating math made it hard to communitcate it to my students. But I met my first group of students! The first I met was Denisse. She is sassy and sweet Puerto Rican girl who looks older than her age and has an innate wisdom that bleeds through. There is Ricardo, the cool kid in class who is also the oldest and reacts negatively to someone who test his manhood. He is also a sweet kid i just knew I had to break him in somehow. Jose is the quite but funny guy in class. Sneaky guy. Shakyra the DIVA. She is the only black girl in my class and knows she is hot. I think she acts like she is Beyonce in her head. She is also the best student in my class. Always down to help but man she got ATTITUDE! You can't tell her nothin! Aisha sits in the front row. When she is confused, she raises one eyebrow. She always has her eyebrow raised. She is too shy to ask questions Ilyama is the sweetest but speaks no English what so ever. I have to find a way to get through to her. Eli and Yilisi stopped coming to class after week 2. I dunno what happened to them. They are types who tries to be cool and easily swayed by peers but are smart. And Nilsa And Nathalie barely come to class which push them further behind than they should be. I hope we get it together because  some of these kids don't know how to multiply let alone find factors of a number. I have lots of work to do

week 3

And we don't stop...I realized I am very much a black woman when it comes to teaching. My partner fears my attitude and my students respect me though they are still not learning fast enough. They definately improved however. Their midterm grades showed a 30% increase but we are looking for 50%. What can I do? Our attendance is low, we have no strict consequences when students break our rules. Those who do come always come late and my lessons are not getting better. However I am building strong relationships with my students and they respond well to me. They say me and my partner are great teachers. The students say we are great teachers! (Well Shakyra said we have some work to do but we are good for just now starting). Highlight of the week was when I taught them how to add polynomials. I had all 100% on my end of class quiz and no raised eyebrows for Aisha. Denisse and Ricardo are becoming my fav. students. They show wonderful leadership in the classroom and are always willing to help communicate my lessons to Ilyama. Even Ilyama felt comfortable enough to ask me for help after class but we still are improving at the rate we should be. I realize i should've invested in my class better by making rewards and consequences clear and calling parents earlier. We called for the first time this week and those we go through to showed real concern. Jose is starting to worry me. He was one of my best students but he is using his cellphone in class and acts a bit ansy...I wonder what is up. Ricardo and Aisha flirt....too much. And I am starting to not like my CMA (my advisor) she is a bit too strict and all the other advisors even think so.

Personal

I cut my hair. I miss my friends.  I got new clothes. I am trying to fit in. I love my  roommate. She is very fun. I saw a flash mob. And realized there is much to be done. I met no men. But its all good. I have no house yet, Hopefully I get it soon. I am about to get braids again, I want my afro to grow. But my daddy says I have to let it show.I realize it is best to remain humble. I am learning how to do that better and better each day but I am meeting great people and recieving mad love. I am about to sleep now. Here is my art

My hair week one, two and three--A different way each week...it will just get shorter and shorter

Poems written these last two weeks

It is my addiction tow the quick fix that keeps me up at night
Maybe if I teach them why I fight
They could inspired to take flight

I will be more on from now on but right now I will sleep. A task I rarely get to enjoy...GOOD NIGHT

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maxwell at Madison Square Garden

AAAAAHHHHH!!!

Philly

aaaahhhhhh!!!

Teach for America in Philadelphia after Maxwell Concert at Madsion Square Garden

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

I am in Philadelphia....and its Pheelin good

Due to my recent transition, I have not made time to update my blog but too all who reads this: I made it and I really like it here. I met some cool fellow Corps Members who will be fighting for equality with me in Camden. We are a small group so we can get to know each other easy. I am also happy I have my uncle here to be there for me when needed. This is my first time living on my own and I have no friends here so I have to start from scratch. I miss my crew but I'm excited for my new journey

We started our training sessions here in a part of the welcoming process called induction where we are learning about the city, the TfA way and getting some classroom management ideas. One of the main goals of induction is to make sure we create a culture of progress that is constant throughout TfA. One of the keys is respect and humility. I have been struggling with that. I need to remember that I am not always right and that others are not wrong just because their views are not my views. I am hard headed and I can see how it is effecting my communication. I am going to get over it.

Everyone I am meeting is great...i'm ready for this ride

I will be teaching at Camden Promise!!

I will be (more than likely) the 9th grade mathematics teacher at Camden Promise Charter school (Click here for more info). I am excited because the school is really great and growing and has a great network. I hope to add my creativity to the math department there. I might also teach a Black women's writers class for a upperclassman elective. YAYAY! I can't wait but I know it will be tough but I got people praying for me so I got a Higher Power on my side.

Also I made a goal. December 21, 2010...I will be a beast. BEAST! Look for pictures...or my cameo in the next Drake video.

Flava Flav said it best...YA BOOOOOIII!!!!

Visited my New City!!

It has been choosen! I will be living and teaching in Camden, New Jersey for the next two years. I am not sure what school yet but I received job offers from two of the best schools in New Jersey: Camden Promise and LEAP Academy . Both schools have great staff, students, networks and love for education. I am excited but I realize these are the only two beacons of hope I saw in Camden. Example:

This is a city after the 1967 Riots that sparked in many African-American cities after MLK's death

This is Camden now

Not much has changed in this city after the riots it seems. The city is known for corrupt mayors, high violent crime rates, auto theft and drug abuse. It is a city that needs hope and change just like Detroit, Chicago, Kansas City..and soon Minneapolis if we don't clean up our act.

The hope and change we are looking for is in our CHILDREN thus we as a community MUST invest in them. After visiting these schools, my faith for change and in love and Education and God has been renewed. All we need is dedication. The same students that come from this neighborhood are attending Camden Pride and LEAP and 90% of Camden students and 100% of LEAP students are in or going to college. They are beating low expectations and I am so proud to be apart of their progress. I just hope I can be a good mathematics teacher that helps these youth think critcally about their world and can use the math skills I help instill in them along with their creativity and HUSTLE to change this world. We need advocates from Camden, Detroit, Chicago, etc to sit at board tables and be the voice for the hood and hopefully end the mass injustice in this world...hopefully. But I am becoming more ready for this challenge..even though my daddy is scared about me leaving....and everyone else. I got this! God is on my side!


On a low note...I really must start workin out...I went to Philly and threw down on them Cheese steaks...YUM!

Preparation...Reflection after graduation

And so it begins...

I always imagined who I would be when I got to this point. I thought I would be in my apartment, with my car, and my golden retriever....well I'm happy where I am anyways.

These last five years have blessed me with AMAZING friends, Great opportunities, supportive families, lessons that I will never forget and now its time for me to start packing all of that up and moving to my new place...Camden, NJ/Philadelphia, PA (permanent location TBA)

I am so very excited because this is where alot of my FAVORITE artists are from...namely:

OOOOO Jesse Williams is so fine....sigh

Any who...I am very excited to be a math teacher (and hopefully REVOLUTIONARY COMMUNITY ACTIVIST) in these neck of the woods where all these beautiful people roamed. One day someone will have my pic in their blog...one day...till then..here is a pic of me at graduation (from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities..double majored in Mathematics and African American Studies [that was Jessie Williams' major too..hehe])

mmm...HOT.....thats my bestie and my lil sis flankin my HOTness

In these next few weeks, I will be reading all of my TfA required articles, looking at inspirational videos for teachers, shopping for "professional clothes" and other things I need to move out and trying to work on my disciplinary skills because, according to students I worked with before, I am too nice....but they learning tho..SO UH!

I hope I meet Jesse Williams in Philly and he'll fall in love...I gotta start working out ..mhmm...

More to come...

This is just the beginning