A Year of Optimism

A year ago today I was sitting in a coffee shop in Sevilla, Spain, finishing up my TFA application. I had no idea what I was going to do when I graduated (all else fails - I could always move back to Spain, right?!) and although studying abroad my senior year was incredible, at that moment I felt very distant from the reality that awaited for me at home.

In the last 12 months, I have not missed a single beat. I still pinch myself sometimes thinking "How did I get here?!" Although this year has been one of tremendous change and challenges I have found myself becoming more positive and optimistic.

Everyday there are a million things that can and WILL go wrong in my classroom. When things do go wrong, I take a minute to reflect and then get over it (if you haven't yet adopted this strategy, I highly recommend it). Each day (for one reason or another) I come back refreshed, recharged and ready to try again. THAT has been the key to my success this year.

TFA sets and holds high expectation for their corps members. I know that my classroom isn't perfect but I'm EXCITED to see how it will grow and change over the final few months of the school year. I am optimistic, hopeful and eager to see my vision unfold for my students. To see trackers on the wall with visual representations of each student's individual mastery, to watch students improve their reading comprehension and fluency, and for my lowest students to catch up to their peers and be prepared for the third grade.

This year has been TURBULENT to say the least, yet I find myself happier than ever. I am blessed with 32 brilliant students, supportive colleagues, a God sent roommate, a tight knit group of new friends, warm weather (Febuary-October) and a family that feels close by even though they're miles and miles away.

One day, all children in this nation will have the opportunity to attain an excellent education.

The Kids Get Wormy

A few days ago a box arrived in the mail stamped with the words "PERISHABLE" and "Open immediately upon arrival." My mealworms had finally arrived.

I the spirit of eduction and scientific discovery and I sucked up my fears and let these critters out of the box. These suckers are gross.

I cut up some potato, but it in the bin and started to read my lesson plan for later that afternoon. Every two students would have their own cup filled with a couple mealworms. They would use magnifying glasses to be "scientists" and look at the worms up close. My teachers manual encouraged me to ask the students questions like "How many legs does each worm have?" "How many legs are at your table group?" "What do you think your worm likes to eat?" etc.

I should have known better.

The students entered the classroom that morning in high spirits. I shook each of their hands as they came through the door... but needless to say ClassKlepto had already discovered the worms I had hidden on my desk in the back corner. This kid really knows how to keep me on my toes. I dispelled the group of students and got everyone started with the normal morning routine. The curiosity was building.

That afternoon, as I started the science lesson, I immediately regretted the cookies I had fed the students earlier that afternoon (note to self: never reward children with sugar). The lesson started off well... we had a class discussion about all the things we already knew about insects and kids were eager to share personal stories about the caterpillars and ants they had already seen.

I handed out the students cups with worms inside. They looked carefully and closely with their plastic magnifiers. They were asking questions and comparing their worms to those of their friends. But, chaos ensued when I told the students we were ready to put the worms on paper plates and look at them up close.


I soon realized that these sleepy looking worms were trying to get the heck out of their small little cups. Once on the plate, these little things tried to make a run for it. They were running off the plate, onto the desks and then... onto the floor. Holy Jesus. I wanted to run... but then I remembered that I was the adult! I started scooping mealworms back onto plates. Calming screaming children who were "missing a worm." Things were getting out of control. I stopped the class and ordered all children to "PUT THE WORMS BACK IN THE CUPS!"

Soon, I had regained control and convinced myself that there were no worms still on the classroom floor (although, I was still keeping my eyes peeled). The kids started calming down and we were finally back on track. What a day.



Lesson learned: never let insects out of the cups. And never let the kids eat cookies during the school day... that's a big one.

It's All About The Little Things

Throughout the past few months, the smallest victories have proven to be my saving graces.

1. Whenever I ask my kids WHY we are doing a lesson, I can 100% count on one (sometimes all) of my kids to say "so we can be ready for third grade and then go on to COLLEGE!"

2. I can see the difference in my kids reading fluency/skills. One day while watching ITeachFor read a math problem from his book I told him "Wow, you are really getting better at reading bud, I'm proud of you!" To which he replied "Ms. M, before I came to your class I couldn't read very good. But now with all those books and stuff you letting me borrow, I'm gonna be the best in the whole class." (This would be an appropriate place to say THANK YOU to my parents, Aunt Jannie and family friends who single-handedly built my library - you are making a DIRECT impact in the lives of my students... for that I am SO grateful!)

3. Getting called "Mom or Auntie" by my students. I know it's silly, but sometimes I think they're actually confused. If nothing else, I give these kids LOVE!

4. My student's behavior is steadily improving (let me rephrase... MY behavior management is improving) and teaching is subsequently becoming easier. My students respect the authority I have in the classroom, and know that I have their best interests at heart.

5. They are developing confidence. The other day a student from a different class came up and said "I hear you are doing college and high school stuff in your class." "YEP, I replied, we are!" My kids are finding missing addends in word problems (algebra!) and writing letters on laptop computers (college...? I for one did a lot of typing on the computer those four years). I tell them EVERY DAY how smart they are. Because it's true.

Little People, Big Trouble

About a month ago, Teach for America and Apple generously donated Apple iPads to the entire Phoenix corps for use in the classroom. This iPad has been an awesome tool for my own use (it has my grade book, calendar etc.) and for use in the classroom. I have used the iPad as an incentive for good behavior and as an intervention strategy with my lower students (imagine learning sight words or practicing math on an iPad... SO cool)!

Needless to say that a few weeks after it's arrival in the classroom it went "missing." I quickly thought back to the last time I saw it... ClassKlepto was trying to put it in his backpack after school (I quickly reclaimed the iPad and drove him out of the room). "AHHHH HA!" I thought, I had my primary suspect. He must have come back into the room after I left.

ClassKlepto is a master of lies and trickery. No one ever answered the home phone, notes home mysteriously disappeared and to top it off... no one at home (except for the 11 year old brother) speaks English.

After an intense interrogation the morning after I saw him try to put the iPad into his backpack, I felt drained. ClassKlepto was found temporarily innocent of all charges... and I now had 3 new suspects (provided at random by ClassKlepto). Odd...

An hour later Klepto was interrogated by a colleague (admittedly much more intimidating than I) to whom he quickly (within 3 minutes) confessed that the iPad was at home IN HIS CLOSET!!! Whaaaaattt....

Within a few hours, two of my coworkers had retrieved the iPad from ClassKlepto's closet. While there, they also had the pleasure of meeting Klepto's Mom, Dad AND Brother (all of whom ClassKlepto had claimed were at work or in school).

Flash forward to today. ClassKlepto just spent 2 days in in-school suspension and is now standing in the bus line with ITeachFor. A few seconds later, ClassKlepto is dragged over to me by a colleague with two stuffed toys in hand which ClassKlepto admitted to stealing from the school library. The kid hadn't learned his lesson.

Luckily for me, this week was parent/teacher conference week. Although I doubted that ClassKlepto's family would show up to their appointed time slot... THEY DID. Mom, Klepto AND the English-speaking older brother!

The conference lasted an astounding 40 minutes. I told Mom about Klepto's disruptive behavior in class, steaing etc. - the language barrier was crushed and this woman was now officially "in the loop." Klepto is officially BUSTED.

Sub Troubles

After feeling sick for a few days, I decided to take the day off on Wednesday to rest and recover. I requested a substitute, typed up some thorough sub plans and was quickly relieved to see that someone had taken the job... this should have been my first indication that something was about to go awry "Who in their right mind would watch 32 second graders?!"

I had to go to sleep away my guilt. I was feeling too sick to think much about it.

I slept the whole next day waking up to check my phone... she hadn't called yet, I thought, so things must be fine.

WRRROOOONNNNGGGGG!!!

At 7:44pm I received a call from a friend and coworker ("F&C").

F&C: "How are you feeling?"
Me: "Still not great but feeling a little better now tha-"
F&C: "Just so you know... your kids were TERRIBLE today with the sub. All day they were running down the hallways and I could hear them screaming and yelling from my room. She said they were totally out of control and that 'Iteachfor' stole candy off your desk. I tried to help but..."
Me: "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
F&C: "I mean the sub was pretty weird but tomorrow you're really going to need to lay down the law with your kids."

I was panic-stricken. My kids had taken advantage of a elderly woman while I was at home, sick.

After a lengthy conversation with Kristen I had come up with a game plan: SCARE THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF THEM. Tomorrow, I would lay down the hammer. Put the fear of GOD into these children. I practiced my speech in my head:

"Today there will be no recess. For ANYONE. What happened yesterday is unacceptable and we will be spending the whole day today talking about RESPECT. In fact, the theme for the rest of the week is respect... the theme for the rest of the YEAR is RESPECT."

Needless to say I stormed out onto the playground at 7:55am to pick up my class... they started screaming my name and running towards me (#stampede)... it was good to be back.

Recording My Adventures in the Classroom

I was lucky enough to have my parents come to visit me this weekend. After being apart almost 2 months after the start of my new life as a teacher they were full of questions for me about my classroom, my kids and my new life in a new city. Work is usually the last thing I want to talk about on a weekend, but I found myself bursting at the seams to tell them about my students... all 32 of them: what they wanted to be when they grow up, the funny things they've done, and how I've grown to adore each of them.

After 2 months in the classroom, things have begun to settle down (remember... this is a relative term...) and I am finally ready to share.

My adventure started in June when I joined Teach for America. I was placed in Phoenix, Arizona and hired soon after as a second grade teacher in a district in Northern Phoenix. The temperature shock was quickly followed by the reality of my post. My kids were behind far behind academically and even socially. No internet research, summer training or classroom visit would every prepare me for the realities of my own classroom.

"Meet The Teacher Night" was the first time I met my most difficult student who I will call "Iteachfor." This student came in with his Aunt and his 3 cousins... he was bright-eyed and quick to find his new desk and explore the supplies I put on top of it. His Aunt pulled me aside and introduced herself... after a deep breath she explained that she had just become Iteachfor's legal guardian. His dad and mom are both in jail and he had moved in with her family 2 short weeks before. After this brief synopsis of the situation she began to cry "Just... just please give him a chance" she pleaded. I was shocked "Of course I will..." I said. "Just don't give up on him. Please... please, don't give up on him" she said again. I was still in shock... of course I wouldn't give up on him, I thought. I came home to tell my roommate Kristen all the details. "This kid is going to be my 'I teach for' story... the one I'm doing this all for, he's going to make so much growth this year and I will NOT give up on him."

The day after I met Iteachfor and his Aunt I was face-to-face with my new student's behavioral, emotional and academic realities. This 7 year old child was SCREAMING in my newly-decorated classroom... interrupting my classroom bonding activities... totally destroying my FIRST, first day of school as I knew it. Iteachfor was out of his seat, accusing other students of stealing from him or picking on him... he was quickly stealing the show. That day I came home exhausted. I sat down on our new IKEA red couch... debriefed with Kristen and was quick to explain that Iteachfor for was no longer my "I teach for."

Needless to say the last 2 months have opened my eyes into the trials of this young child's life. He was neglected by his troubled parents, only to be adopted by his put-together Aunt (she as a God-sent and an amazing advocate for this child!) after they were both sentenced to long-term prison sentences. Iteachfor craves attention, praise and academic challenges. He has two clear paths he could take in his life, and I am determined to guide him towards the "out of trouble and college-bound" path.

Friday, while Iteachfor was serving his routine recess time (for his continued, but improving behavioral issues) I sat him down and looked him in the eyes. "You know that even though we've had our ups and downs... you know I'm not going to give up on you, right?""I know" he said confidently. We sealed the promise with a pinky swear.

No turning back now.