there's no place like home

I cannot believe that I have already been teaching for over a month. I have doubled my teaching experience since institute. I am so overwhelmed by all the work I have to do for TFA, my certification program, my class, and my school. My life is consumed by my work. But I guess that is what I came down here to do. I had such great teachers and went to wonderful schools. I feel confident in my public school education. It is not fair that so many kids do not have that opportunity. It is the least I can do to give two years to show my appreciation and help as I am able.

I am learning some new words and phrases down here:
arer = “r”
arnge = orange
making groceries = going grocery shopping
saving groceries = putting them away
cutting up = goofing off
making 23 = turning 23
what ta do? = what am I supposed to be doing
I gotta use it = I need to go to the bathroom
pernt = point

One of my students told me that I should go back to Oregon. I could be really sad about it, but I really think that deep down this student really likes me – he just hasn’t figured it out yet. How’s that for optimism? I am not quite that optimistic about much else. We have been in school for over a month and my classroom management is still struggling. The students are very disrespectful of each other – calling other students names and kicking and shoving them. One of my students has in-school suspension all day on Monday because he is constantly getting in trouble. He finally pushed it too far in the cafeteria and got sent right to the principal’s office. This student is such a struggle for me. He is very smart and FUNNY! He is definitely the class clown and sometimes it is really hard for me not to laugh at him, but he needs to learn that during school is not his time to be putting on a show for everyone. He is so disrespectful and distracting! It is quite ironic that his little sister, a little kindergartener, has taken to me. She always seems to find me on my most frustrating days. She always gives me huge hugs around the legs, she kisses my hand and tells me that she loves me.

According to the district's set schedule I am behind already on what I should be teaching my students. This week was so hard because they had to take their district benchmark and also this tracking diagnostic required by Teach for America. They were dying from all the tests!!! I need to be more efficient with my planning so I can really utilize all the time I have with them and make it meaningful.

Having both my sisters and mom in the education world I always knew that teaching was a hard job, but I never knew it was going to be this hard. There is always more to be done and it is hard to prioritize. I don’t think you can understand really what all goes into teaching until you are in the middle of it. I asked my students what they thought I did when I went home after school. Their responses were: plan for tomorrow, make stuff for us, grade our papers…I would have liked to be offended and tell them about all the great things I am doing after work, but I guess even my students know I have no life.

I have this fear of one of someone throwing up in my class. It seems silly, it shouldn’t really be that big of a deal. I just know my students would probably go berserk and not be very nice about it, plus its just eeehhhhh. Anyway the point is I was sitting at my desk enjoying some yogurt when one of the other 3rd grade teachers comes in to talk to me. She was asking me some questions and then suddenly she just puked all over the floor next to and under my desk. She was literally no more that 3 feet away from me. All I could do was stand up and leave my classroom as fast as possible. Such a nurturing person I am, huh? Poor lady.

On a brighter note I got to go to the LSU vs. Tulane game last weekend. It was so fun to be in the Superdome and ahhh I love FOOTBALL! I wish they would let me play it. The Teach for America Corps members who are graduates of LSU and Tulane got to go down on the field and be recognized – you may have seen it on ESPN.



I am really missing “home”. I miss my family and I miss my friends. And I miss the beautiful NORTHWEST! I miss being comfortable. Even though I have met some great people I have also realized that it just takes time to get really close to someone. I need some good hugs and cuddle time.

But I got the greatest news….KJ is coming!!! My roommate of three, basically four years in Seattle is taking a trip down here from Colorado over Thanksgiving. I am so pumped. It will be amazing to have a little bit of “family” around for the holiday. Only 39 days…

I am so thankful for all the nice e-mails, phone calls, and letters that I have been receiving. They are what keep me going each day. It is such an amazing feeling to know that so many of you are thinking and praying for me. I am starting a wall of notes and always share them with my roommates. I am so lucky to have such tremendous support.