Michael Jackson, 16 year olds and the Sugar Shack
As I step into my fourth full week of teaching, it occurred to me I have not posted about teaching since I started. Things are good! Lots of work, as usual, but it's great to be back in New Orleans, and I"m starting to be able to see myself here for a more extended period of time. Only one month left in the hurricane season...then I'll be breathing easier. Our house is getting settled... After many a calamity with our landlord who lived in our house while we tried to move in, left her "inappropriate" film collection and was a no-show on many supposed construction days, things are finally shaping up and 3221 Annunciation Street feels almost like home. Jake and I framed my vintage Michael Jackson poster, so really what more could a girl ask for. Living with Jake has been, and will continue to be awesome. Our neighbor has a cute cocker spaniel and internet that we pirate, and the neighborhood is very socio-economically and racially diverse, which I enjoy. Some might call it "transitional" like my last NO neighborhood, but I call it awesome.
In terms of teaching, I have relaxed into it a lot more nicely this year. The kids are crazy, and range in age from 11-16 in the 5th grade. Motivation and self-esteem is the primary problem I'm facing, along with behavior/special ed difficulties. My homeroom runs like clockwork and I think we will see immense progress from them. Out of the 17 in Nicole's homeroom, 13 are boys, one is small, white and autistic (= easy target), 3 boys are 14, 1 is 15 and 1 is 16. But then there's Darryl Royal, the shining star. Amidst all the mayhem of bickering, refusing to do such menial tasks as get out a piece of paper to do any work and yelling/disrespecting us as teachers, Darryl has scored over 90% on both math assessments, does all the homework, and walks lines with the "bad kids" because he knows he's a good example for them. At 14, it's amazing to me that he has not lost excitement/motivation for school. He's very impressive. I've caught him telling the other old, disengaged boys that they should stop disrupting the class so that the team can learn. We love Darryl.
Equally entertaining as the kids is the Godchaux faculty. Ms. Wallace is the assistant principal..she walks around in super vamped up matching turquoise/gold outfits with click heels. I don't think she really does anything at all but does a great job of pretending.. although I have no tangible evidence of this claim, her office is right next to Nicole's classroom... The principal Ms. Clark is awesome. She is about 6'2 in heels, strict/stern but not to a fault. Gives that principal aura, like you better not mess with your teachers, students, cause you don't wanna be in my office. But Ms. Clark really believes in them too...it's a good mixture. She's intimidating to me, for sure, but I don't think my principal should be my friend, but a friendly colleague... blurred lines were a problem at my last school. I like the clear separations between work and social life that I could not enjoy last year, due to our all-TFA school in Houston. Another favorite staff member is Ms. Gray, a permanent "volunteer" sub (why you would do this work without a paycheck is WAY beyond me) who has an intense blond extension ponytail and is super friendly.
All the older veteran women teachers are great...but my favorite would have to be Mrs. Burl. She took us under her wing from day one, and is always scoring us supplies, and checks on us to see if we are doing okay. I thought the age difference would be a barrier between me and the other teachers, and there are times when they look at us like baby, you could be my grandchild. But it's so nice having older teachers, especially ones who were born and raised in the rural St. John community and know the kids and families well. The 90 minute roundtrip commute is killing me, but I get to do it with my two friends Greta and Nicole, which makes it way better. I really do enjoy the rural setting...I teach in Reserve, Louisiana (45 minutes from uptown New Orleans, where I live) and nearby Garyville is one of those towns that has train tracks running through, a broke-down car garage and the "Sugar Shack" diner. Quite the cultural experience. Went to East St. John High School football game last friday, and the steps dance team and band were incredible... similar to the bands in the movie "Drumline" with their style and flair. I took a lot of good things away from teaching at a KIPP school last year, but I am really enjoying the experience at a more typical under-funded, under-resourced, high-needs school. No copies until this past friday, no textbooks, it's rough. But forces me to be super creative with teaching, which is not a bad thing.
New Orleans is not a scary, super-violent place like the news makes it sound... the culture is still alive and kicking. Po-Boys, beignets and cafe au laits, the seafood...mmmmm. The second line parades (even at funerals, people like to be joyful around here), live jazz music any time, any day, the friendliest people in the world live here, I swear.
Come and visit me any time! And I promise I'll post more often. Hopefully : )
Love, Sarah
In terms of teaching, I have relaxed into it a lot more nicely this year. The kids are crazy, and range in age from 11-16 in the 5th grade. Motivation and self-esteem is the primary problem I'm facing, along with behavior/special ed difficulties. My homeroom runs like clockwork and I think we will see immense progress from them. Out of the 17 in Nicole's homeroom, 13 are boys, one is small, white and autistic (= easy target), 3 boys are 14, 1 is 15 and 1 is 16. But then there's Darryl Royal, the shining star. Amidst all the mayhem of bickering, refusing to do such menial tasks as get out a piece of paper to do any work and yelling/disrespecting us as teachers, Darryl has scored over 90% on both math assessments, does all the homework, and walks lines with the "bad kids" because he knows he's a good example for them. At 14, it's amazing to me that he has not lost excitement/motivation for school. He's very impressive. I've caught him telling the other old, disengaged boys that they should stop disrupting the class so that the team can learn. We love Darryl.
Equally entertaining as the kids is the Godchaux faculty. Ms. Wallace is the assistant principal..she walks around in super vamped up matching turquoise/gold outfits with click heels. I don't think she really does anything at all but does a great job of pretending.. although I have no tangible evidence of this claim, her office is right next to Nicole's classroom... The principal Ms. Clark is awesome. She is about 6'2 in heels, strict/stern but not to a fault. Gives that principal aura, like you better not mess with your teachers, students, cause you don't wanna be in my office. But Ms. Clark really believes in them too...it's a good mixture. She's intimidating to me, for sure, but I don't think my principal should be my friend, but a friendly colleague... blurred lines were a problem at my last school. I like the clear separations between work and social life that I could not enjoy last year, due to our all-TFA school in Houston. Another favorite staff member is Ms. Gray, a permanent "volunteer" sub (why you would do this work without a paycheck is WAY beyond me) who has an intense blond extension ponytail and is super friendly.
All the older veteran women teachers are great...but my favorite would have to be Mrs. Burl. She took us under her wing from day one, and is always scoring us supplies, and checks on us to see if we are doing okay. I thought the age difference would be a barrier between me and the other teachers, and there are times when they look at us like baby, you could be my grandchild. But it's so nice having older teachers, especially ones who were born and raised in the rural St. John community and know the kids and families well. The 90 minute roundtrip commute is killing me, but I get to do it with my two friends Greta and Nicole, which makes it way better. I really do enjoy the rural setting...I teach in Reserve, Louisiana (45 minutes from uptown New Orleans, where I live) and nearby Garyville is one of those towns that has train tracks running through, a broke-down car garage and the "Sugar Shack" diner. Quite the cultural experience. Went to East St. John High School football game last friday, and the steps dance team and band were incredible... similar to the bands in the movie "Drumline" with their style and flair. I took a lot of good things away from teaching at a KIPP school last year, but I am really enjoying the experience at a more typical under-funded, under-resourced, high-needs school. No copies until this past friday, no textbooks, it's rough. But forces me to be super creative with teaching, which is not a bad thing.
New Orleans is not a scary, super-violent place like the news makes it sound... the culture is still alive and kicking. Po-Boys, beignets and cafe au laits, the seafood...mmmmm. The second line parades (even at funerals, people like to be joyful around here), live jazz music any time, any day, the friendliest people in the world live here, I swear.
Come and visit me any time! And I promise I'll post more often. Hopefully : )
Love, Sarah
posted by MissBliss at 2:16 PM
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