Posted in Growth, Uncategorized on Aug 31st, 2008 1 Comment »
That’s what it feels like -but not in a bad way. I started student teaching this week and so far, it has been GREAT. (I can practically see your eyes rolling right now!) “She’s totally in the honeymoon phase,” right? But I don’t think that’s the case. I’m definitely not saying “clear sailing all the [...]
Posted in Struggles, The Achievement Gap on Aug 27th, 2008 1 Comment »
Today was ‘textbook day.’ The majority of each class period was spent journeying to the library, standing in line, checking out textbooks, then journeying right back. Laidback for teachers, laidback for students. Throughout the day, however, I couldn’t help but notice a stark contrast in attitude between classes…
Many of my geometry students were excited. A [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Aug 25th, 2008 No Comments »
As I walked out of my classroom, my car looked lonely. The vast empty parking lot was its backdrop. I shut the door with my throat parched, water bottle empty, eyes heavy, thoughts filled. The math dept chair whose notorious for leaving late passed by an hour earlier, checking in to see how I was. [...]
Posted in Lighthearted on Aug 22nd, 2008 No Comments »
Posted in Uncategorized on Aug 21st, 2008 2 Comments »
Our school is a gated community, or should I say, gated off from the community. Six classroom portables, one portable office, our campus is fenced off from the rest of Oakland that extends beyond the intersection of 83rd Ave and Hillside St. The windows of our portable have bars while the metal door to our [...]
Posted in Advice, First-Year, Growth, Methods, Uncategorized on Aug 21st, 2008 3 Comments »
Things are about to get crazy busy for us teachers. I’d say the busiest time of the year is the first few months. My OTF advisor last year shared that it feels like an uphill battle up until Thanksgiving break. Once break hits, the rest of the year feels like a downhill slope. I recall [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Aug 20th, 2008 No Comments »
As a product of the UC system, I see the Regents as faceless entities who nonchalantly hike up tuition without concern for students who can barely afford a college education as it is. (I apologize for that run-on. And, I don’t want to shortchange the Regents; I’m sure they do much more than make higher [...]
Posted in Education Article Meanderings, Statistics, The Achievement Gap on Aug 19th, 2008 1 Comment »
When I first read this article, I knew an eventual blog post was a must. I know I will complain this school year about long nights grading, lesson planning, extremely short lunches; I’ll complain about the need to fully invest myself in and out of work when I’d rather just fully be me after walking [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Aug 18th, 2008 1 Comment »
My favorite edublogger weighs in on what he believes students want to see in a teacher on that first day. The ideal first impression. Regardless of whether or not you agree, one things for sure: first days DO NOT get less intimidating with experience. We may know what to expect and we may have a [...]
Posted in Childhood Education, Teach For America on Aug 18th, 2008 1 Comment »
Tomorrow I have an interview to teach 6th grade English Language Arts at a middle school in the Bronx. What is unique about this school is that it’s located on a college campus. It partners with a program where college students tutor kids that need help with Math or English. It’s perfect because, no matter [...]
