Life is Good Part II
The teaching, the kids. Where to begin? Omar. Omar was my favorite, I’d have to say- he had an attitude, but was so sweet and proud of the fact that he worked at his family’s chicken stand. He was so smart, but didn’t know it, and my summer’s mission was to convince him that he was. My favorites were mostly the “bad” kids…one thing that became evident very fast is that they are “bad” for good reasons and deep down they want love, attention and really do want to learn, or they wouldn’t come back to school after being expelled, like Hector the 14 year old in 6th grade. Teaching was the hardest 4 weeks of my life- while most teachers had 15, and some had ONE student, I had 25, and behavior management was a huge challenge. It was really hard to return every day when I couldn’t get them quiet and even the quiet kids would get mad because I couldn’t teach them much with a class so out of control. I discovered a commitment and patience I never knew I had…somehow I never considered quitting, even with the everyday struggle and very limited success I had in teaching my sixth graders anything about social studies.
Honestly, it was the little things that kept me going. Having a student ask me why I love teaching. Eating cheap Mexican food at Taco Cabana. Chocolate cake days at the UH diner. Watching the new R Kelly 5 part music video saga, possibly the most outrageous work of cinema ever made- it rendered 25 people crammed in my room silent in pure disbelief. Going to our curriculum sessions, where our instructor Martin would call us “Maestros” in his gruff Texas accent and bust out double entendres with a straight face. It was amazing how with 24 out of control kids, if one was attentive and grasped what I was saying, that alone kept me in the game… there I saw the potential for good things. It really does start with one student, and what they can achieve. New Orleans has the highest dropout rate for TFA teachers in the country, but something tells me I can make it. Hell, I made it through institute, I can do anything! We celebrated the last night of Institute by taking an impromptu swim in the campus fountain, not fully clothed but not indecent….which quickly turned in to feeling badass and trying to flee from cops, having to answer to angry cops (yes sir, no sir), making friends with cops, cops telling us stories about TFA fountain swimmers of the past, cops telling other funny stories about skinny dipping, cops walking away. Priceless.
Now, back in New Orleans, which felt like coming home. Just signed a lease today, which is so exciting! We found a 4 bedroom, 2150 square foot (aka HUGE) house for very cheap rent, it really is a steal. We have 3 living there, the fourth room will be a study/game room. Our house is very new Orleans-ish, right in the city, has gas lights, a iron rod fence, high ceiling, hardwood floors, two balconies and huge doors and windows. I will try to send a photo soon. We are down the street from Walmart- I just know I will be a convert no matter how hard I try to resist, so I apologize in advance Mom and Dad.
New Orleans is great! Amazing food, can definitely compete with San Francisco for the best food in the country. People are so friendly- it has that southern flair that is so endearing. Huge trees line the streets, the streetcar still runs, and it really doesn’t give that big city feel that sometimes deters me. Lots of fun coffee shops/bars, never wanting for things to do here. With my plethora of free time (ha ha) I will never be bored.
I have a tentative placement as a 9th grade special ed teacher across the Mississippi river, about 15 minutes from my house. I will sign a contract in a couple weeks, then start teaching august 22, yikes! For now, living in a hotel for free, planning stuff for the house, exploring the Big Easy and getting myself psyched up for the school year. I have 5 more days completely off, then TFA orientation, new teacher training, etc. and I’m off and running. I am enjoying the MUCH needed down time, and just beginning to process all that I just went through.
I hope this email finds you happy and healthy wherever in the world you are. Keep in touch, and don’t forget, I have an extra room in NO: )
With love,
Sarah/ “Miss Bliss”
Honestly, it was the little things that kept me going. Having a student ask me why I love teaching. Eating cheap Mexican food at Taco Cabana. Chocolate cake days at the UH diner. Watching the new R Kelly 5 part music video saga, possibly the most outrageous work of cinema ever made- it rendered 25 people crammed in my room silent in pure disbelief. Going to our curriculum sessions, where our instructor Martin would call us “Maestros” in his gruff Texas accent and bust out double entendres with a straight face. It was amazing how with 24 out of control kids, if one was attentive and grasped what I was saying, that alone kept me in the game… there I saw the potential for good things. It really does start with one student, and what they can achieve. New Orleans has the highest dropout rate for TFA teachers in the country, but something tells me I can make it. Hell, I made it through institute, I can do anything! We celebrated the last night of Institute by taking an impromptu swim in the campus fountain, not fully clothed but not indecent….which quickly turned in to feeling badass and trying to flee from cops, having to answer to angry cops (yes sir, no sir), making friends with cops, cops telling us stories about TFA fountain swimmers of the past, cops telling other funny stories about skinny dipping, cops walking away. Priceless.
Now, back in New Orleans, which felt like coming home. Just signed a lease today, which is so exciting! We found a 4 bedroom, 2150 square foot (aka HUGE) house for very cheap rent, it really is a steal. We have 3 living there, the fourth room will be a study/game room. Our house is very new Orleans-ish, right in the city, has gas lights, a iron rod fence, high ceiling, hardwood floors, two balconies and huge doors and windows. I will try to send a photo soon. We are down the street from Walmart- I just know I will be a convert no matter how hard I try to resist, so I apologize in advance Mom and Dad.
New Orleans is great! Amazing food, can definitely compete with San Francisco for the best food in the country. People are so friendly- it has that southern flair that is so endearing. Huge trees line the streets, the streetcar still runs, and it really doesn’t give that big city feel that sometimes deters me. Lots of fun coffee shops/bars, never wanting for things to do here. With my plethora of free time (ha ha) I will never be bored.
I have a tentative placement as a 9th grade special ed teacher across the Mississippi river, about 15 minutes from my house. I will sign a contract in a couple weeks, then start teaching august 22, yikes! For now, living in a hotel for free, planning stuff for the house, exploring the Big Easy and getting myself psyched up for the school year. I have 5 more days completely off, then TFA orientation, new teacher training, etc. and I’m off and running. I am enjoying the MUCH needed down time, and just beginning to process all that I just went through.
I hope this email finds you happy and healthy wherever in the world you are. Keep in touch, and don’t forget, I have an extra room in NO: )
With love,
Sarah/ “Miss Bliss”
posted by MissBliss at 3:41 PM
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