This is the story of the hurricane....
My life = whirlwind. But I'll give you the short and sweet version. Last week we cleaned the school and got a crash course on KIPP schools. They are run VERY differently- for example, kids must always walk against the wall on the right side, VERY strict- but it seems to be very effective with this population. With just a little bit of discipline and routine, these kids are so animated and ready to learn, it's awesome.
Cleaning out the school was pretty damn funny. The classrooms were a DISASTER- teachers left them trashed. For example, one classroom had a rotten, smushed banana on the table, "F*** you teachers" written in permanent pen on the board and a full CUTLERY set with sharp knives scattered about. Even a butcher cleaver. Are you kidding me? kindergartners are supposed to be in this room with deadly weapons?
Yesterday we got our kids. They really blow my mind. We are the fab fifth graders, and I absolutely LOVE teaching this age. They are just starting to really interpret/analyze on a higher level and become aware of the world around them, but they are not jaded yet- they still have that innocence about them, even the ones who have taken fifth grade a few times already. I could write a novel just about day one. They came dressed to the nines, in their little polo shirts and slicked back hair, SO excited to be back in school. They are so smart, you can just tell they are not used to being so stimulated in school- they look at us like "who are these wacky white teachers and why are they making us chant "class of 2013"? (that is the year they will go to college...a big KIPP culture thing, I love it.) My homeroom is the Oregon Ducks and my kids can say Go Ducks in their sleep by now :) We have one Houston kid who was so excited that our school was a college prep that he transferred from his old school, which he hated because he wasn't learning anything. And he's one of the brightest kids, Kaleb. Our class we call Operation RTS (rule the school) and we brought them to an empty room, told them no one in the whole school knows about it, gave them confidential files and swore them in as RTS secret agents. We wore sunglasses, listened to Men In Black and had kids periodically check for "security breaches" in the hallway. One girl came back and emphatically stated "We're clear." One of the cutest things I have ever seen. They love our secret agent mission. Today, our 5th graders were quiet for a whole 11 minutes, 15 seconds. I can't even stay quiet that long (we all know that). I was impressed. Turns out if you turn everything in to a competition with 4th graders, the 5th graders get down to business!
The days are long- working from 7:30 to 6:30 is a bit exhausting, but hopefully not every week will be like this. This weekend will be exhausting as well, as we will drive to Louisiana to get all of our stuff and move in to our apartment (hopefully) in Houston on sunday. When will we lesson plan for week 2? In the car on laptops, I suppose. I am really excited about getting all my things together and getting a permanent residence, although staying with friends in Houston has been wonderful.
One thing that is great about KIPP is the funding- it seems unending, so we get to go on all types of fieldtrips, have AWESOME teaching supplies and equipment, and can basically ask for anything we want in terms of resources. And, it's great because we've been team-teaching as a grade. With 3 teachers, it's easier to ease in to teaching, and we can bounce off of each other.
so, life is frickin' busy but so good. Seeing these bright faces everyday makes me so happy. And at the end of the day, even with my tired mind and achy legs I feel energized.
Ya gotta fuss for the poor people!
Bliss
Cleaning out the school was pretty damn funny. The classrooms were a DISASTER- teachers left them trashed. For example, one classroom had a rotten, smushed banana on the table, "F*** you teachers" written in permanent pen on the board and a full CUTLERY set with sharp knives scattered about. Even a butcher cleaver. Are you kidding me? kindergartners are supposed to be in this room with deadly weapons?
Yesterday we got our kids. They really blow my mind. We are the fab fifth graders, and I absolutely LOVE teaching this age. They are just starting to really interpret/analyze on a higher level and become aware of the world around them, but they are not jaded yet- they still have that innocence about them, even the ones who have taken fifth grade a few times already. I could write a novel just about day one. They came dressed to the nines, in their little polo shirts and slicked back hair, SO excited to be back in school. They are so smart, you can just tell they are not used to being so stimulated in school- they look at us like "who are these wacky white teachers and why are they making us chant "class of 2013"? (that is the year they will go to college...a big KIPP culture thing, I love it.) My homeroom is the Oregon Ducks and my kids can say Go Ducks in their sleep by now :) We have one Houston kid who was so excited that our school was a college prep that he transferred from his old school, which he hated because he wasn't learning anything. And he's one of the brightest kids, Kaleb. Our class we call Operation RTS (rule the school) and we brought them to an empty room, told them no one in the whole school knows about it, gave them confidential files and swore them in as RTS secret agents. We wore sunglasses, listened to Men In Black and had kids periodically check for "security breaches" in the hallway. One girl came back and emphatically stated "We're clear." One of the cutest things I have ever seen. They love our secret agent mission. Today, our 5th graders were quiet for a whole 11 minutes, 15 seconds. I can't even stay quiet that long (we all know that). I was impressed. Turns out if you turn everything in to a competition with 4th graders, the 5th graders get down to business!
The days are long- working from 7:30 to 6:30 is a bit exhausting, but hopefully not every week will be like this. This weekend will be exhausting as well, as we will drive to Louisiana to get all of our stuff and move in to our apartment (hopefully) in Houston on sunday. When will we lesson plan for week 2? In the car on laptops, I suppose. I am really excited about getting all my things together and getting a permanent residence, although staying with friends in Houston has been wonderful.
One thing that is great about KIPP is the funding- it seems unending, so we get to go on all types of fieldtrips, have AWESOME teaching supplies and equipment, and can basically ask for anything we want in terms of resources. And, it's great because we've been team-teaching as a grade. With 3 teachers, it's easier to ease in to teaching, and we can bounce off of each other.
so, life is frickin' busy but so good. Seeing these bright faces everyday makes me so happy. And at the end of the day, even with my tired mind and achy legs I feel energized.
Ya gotta fuss for the poor people!
Bliss
posted by MissBliss at 7:50 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home