This is my first post on a new blog. Kind of a refreshing feeling, invigorating really! I started this blog to talk a little bit about all the crazy things that are happening in my life right now. I mean, being a kindergarten teacher in East New York was just about the last place that I thought I would be looking forward a year or two ago. But, here I am! So I wanted to share a little bit about my experiences and hopefully those of you reading will gain something from it all, even if it is just a laugh or two.
To start out, I wanted to give a quick little overview of how I got here. A little over a year ago, I decided to apply for the Teach For America program. I felt like it was a great program and that I would be a good fit. Studying political science, I figured that if I got into the program, I would end up teaching some sort of social studies classes somewhere in the United States. Yep, pretty broad, but apparently not broad enough seeing as where I am now. So I applied and went through the incredibly long and selective TFA process and somehow got in. When I saw that I was going to New York, my jaw literally fell through the ground. What?! Yeah, that happened. Well over the next several months I went through the tedious hiring process so that I could find a teaching job for the fall. I flew back and forth from New York to Utah. Going to interview after interview. It was through this process that I quickly learned that I would most likely not be teaching social studies. I found very fast that with TFA, unless you have a strong background in math or science, you really could end up teaching anything. They just throw you at interviews and you have to take whatever comes. Phew… I was relieved when that process was finally over, it was nice to land a job early in the process, even though it was not quite the job I was looking for. The job I landed was a kindergarten teacher in East New York. I’d have to say I was a little it shocked, it was definitely not what I had planned, nor did I feel very prepared for it, but I am learning to love it.
To make a long story short, that brings me to where I am today. After two months of intensive training with both Teach For American and Achievement First (my charter school network), I have taken on 31 kindergarteners for two and half weeks now. I’ll have to save the stories of training for another day, but believe me, there are some good ones. But yes, I am officially a kindergarten teacher trying to keep my head above water as I struggle to teach 4 and 5 year olds what school is for 9 hours a day. Needless to say, it is a lot of work. A. Lot. Of. Work. On average, I work about 12 hour days. Teaching is a hefty job in and of itself, but when you are doing more than just teaching, when you are giving your all to help turn around the odds for kids who have a mountain to climb in order to just get to college, let alone graduate and have what would be considered a decent career, it really takes a toll. I go to sleep every night with swollen feet and wake up every morning wondering where the night went. But somehow I make it through another day.
If you have made it this far, you must either be a really good friend, or you must somewhat like what I have to say. Sorry, I stepped up on my soapbox for a bit, I can be a bit passionate at times. I do hope you will stick around though and read my blog occasionally. I have already had some crazy experiences that I can’t wait to write about. Things such as walking through crime scenes, being chastised by homeless people, making a fool out of myself as a new teacher, and hanging out with 5 year olds have become the norm for me out here. So if any of that sounds at all interesting, check back and give my blog a gander!
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