Monday, May 17, 2010

Only two more days of students and one more teacher day... Strange. It's all wrapping up, and it turns out that I survived my first year of teaching. Actually, I think I should stop using that word even if there is a degree of reality to it, because though surviving is all I did at times, most of the year I did a lot more than survive. I connected with sixteen students, whose futures will forever matter to me, no matter what. Somewhere across the year, these kids grew, and they grew a lot. I could give you numbers and data about how much they grew (TFA thankfully requires careful tracking), but, instead, I'll just tell you that these kids are true superstars and deserve all of our respect for their willingness to shoot for unlikely goals because a strange woman tells them to and then to achieve them. I'm so proud of them. About half of them will no longer be my students next year, and I have no words for how I will miss them. These same students took me, a recent college graduate with clear dreams for her own future, and hijacked all of those plans. I don't know what the future holds, because I realize more and more that my dreams for myself are now intertwined with my dreams for my students. It's a strange thing teaching does, and I now understand why 2/3 of all TFAers continue working in or on education issues. I cannot ever let down my students, whom I love... we shall see where that leads...

On another note, this summer I will be traveling overseas, and for the first time in my life, going overseas does not mean going somewhere new. Instead, I will be returning to two familiar places: first to my German friends and family in Bremen, and second to visit my sister in Jerusalem. Keep checking here for all my updates! Thank you for all your e-mails, comments, and phone calls of concern and support this year. :)

Saturday, May 08, 2010

Strange, we're already into the second week in May. There are nine more instructional days of school, though four of those are only half days. I can't believe it. I've survived my first year of teaching. Yes, there's plenty to get done between now and then (e.g. finish my PTP portfolio, so I get certified!!!), but I don't just see the light at the end of the tunnel: I'm a mere few steps away from it. And then summer! Oh glorious summer that I have worked so hard for!!! My plans include going to Edisto, Archdale/High Point/Greensboro, Boston, Germany, and Israel this summer! I am SO ready. I know I will come back a much better teacher for having taken this break.