Greetings from room 604 of Da Silva Hall, St. John's University, Jamaica, New York. I sleep on the top bunk of a three person bedroom. My suite had eight people at the beginning, but now we only have seven. Some say that we are the all-american Teach for America corp suite. My suitemates are Greek-Chinese,Palestinian-American, African American, Anglo-Saxon heritage, Japanese American etc.
Each day, we get up around five, shower, go to breakfast, and load the bus by 6:15 am. My school is PS 86 located in the Bronx and one of the largest schools in New York. I work in the best 5th grade classroom ever. The first day of school, we asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up. One girl stated, "I want to be a teacher." My eyes welled up as she continued telling us that she like to help other people learn. Another wanted to be a policeman so he could help out people in trouble and another wanted to be a "flight attender" (I thought she meant a flight attendant, but she was adamant that she wanted to be a flight attender. So, flight attender she is.)
I am in week four of institute. Institute is our training ground for our classroom. At times, it feels like the MTC- minus the abundance of the spirit and nylons. :) We have a rigorous schedule of curriculum training meetings, teaching in the classroom, getting feedback on our lesson, and other meetings that tell us why we Teach for America.
Our classrom once had four teachers - a four person collaborative. Two of them are now happier in Washington, DC and Oregon. I miss them a great deal. But I am also enjoying the time with my other collab partner. Our collaboratives meet with other collaborates in a group, and we are under the wing of a corp member advisor (cma), her name is Mia Hood, who did her TFA experience in New Orleans.
I am expanding my horizons on multiple levels, and trying to get out of my social misfit-ism. Hopefully, I will get used to things. I know the first post of the blog is supposed to be profound, but if I wait for that time, then I do not think I will ever post anything! :)
I am grateful for all of the love and support of family friends. In one of our literacy sections, we talked about the word telephone." tele" meaning distant, and "phone" meaning voice. So, here is my telephone entry. I would love to hear all of your updates, comments, and such. Thanks for enduring my stream of consciousness.
