The End

It is so close to the end of the year that I can almost taste the summer! With six days left, and a few of those that I will be out of town for Ashley's wedding, I am so thankful for it to be done.

I know that so many people are envious of teachers and the extended summer vacation, but in all honesty, it is a MUCH NEEDED break. Just imagine, babysitting 70 hormone-ridden students, 180 days of the year...if that doesn't stress you out at the thought of it, you must be an angel! I am still so completely in love with my job, and I love my kids to no end...I guess you could say it is bitter-sweet that it is coming to an end because I will miss my kids soooo much this summer (most likely I will be at basketball games, soccer tournaments, and driving through their neighborhoods to keep up with them!) One of the things that I am thoroughly looking forward to is becoming a better teacher. I know that I tried my best, and I worked hard, but MAN! This is a tough job, and I had NO IDEA what I was doing - now I don't feel too badly about saying that because is it true to almost any first-year teacher across the country!

This coming summer is exciting because of the upcoming professional development and feedback that I will be getting from Achievement First, a charter school in Bridgeport that I will be teaching summer school at for two weeks in July. Their model is based in constant feedback to improve instruction. Not only will this help me teach better, but I will also know HOW to plan this summer. I knew so little about a Long Term Plan, a Unit Plan, or even a Lesson Plan last summer that it even seems comical. I am so excited for the extended amount of time that I will have to work on all of these things, as opposed to one weeks before school starts to scramble about.

I have definitely learned SO much about myself this year, and the implications that my personality have on my students. I continue to understand my meaning, my purpose here, and it continues to amaze me. Humbly growing in a stressful environment has been a challenge, but I have tried to ask for help every time that I am in over my head, I have tried not to judge my peers or my students, and I have worked as hard as I can (most of the time).

Thank you to all of the people who have supported me, encouraged me, listened to me, and prayed for me. All of you have had a positive impact on my first year in TFA and my first year as a teacher. Love to you all!

Finally!

It seems that, now, at the very end of the year, with ten days left, a certain person is starting to understand that our kids need to be given consequences.

Starting yesterday, our students were put on lock down - meaning that the 7th grade as a whole cannot handle walking through the halls without acting like animals (pretty sure I was able to do so when I was 12) and so they have all of their subjects in the same room all day, the teachers rotate. This was consequence number one.

Now, as I sit in the lounge because my room is occupied, I am watching as several EXTREMELY disrespectful students get sent home. There are a handful of them who are congregating in the hallway (which they have done all year) and they are actually being reprimanded for it. Hopefully this is a good sign, and I pray this will actually continue to be a pattern through the course of next year! Yes, these kids are rough, but we can't just give up and let them rule the hallways - I am A-OKAY with pissing them off and treating them as old as they act - about 3 that is. Send them home! Give them detentions! Make them clean the floors with a toothbrush for gracious-sake! I don't care what it is, but they need to be punished.

Back to the thought of the Harlem Children's Project - I really like the idea of parenting classes - discipline classes in particular. I wouldn't walk into a classroom without having been trained in classroom management, so shouldn't a parent enter parenthood without discipline classes.

I am thankful for having the wild experience of being a teacher because of the benefit of being trained on how to discipline - it works both ways! Teacher to parent, or parent to teacher...oh the joy of discipline.

PLEASE pray for our last 10 days at school...Lord knows it will be a long two weeks.