I came to teach but definitely was taught instead.

It was the last day in the classroom! Where on earth did the time go?!

Me and my mentor teacher

This week and last week, I especially got to work with students one-on-one and in small groups and it definitely was one of my favorite aspects of the classroom.    I have learned the one of the biggest challenges that urban teachers face is definitely absent kids---its so hard to stay on top of students that only come to class 1-2 days/week! 

As a vivid reminder of the realities of my students' lives, today one of my students (who hardly ever shows up to school) randomly told me today that he struggles with severe depression and that his dad just went to jail and that's why he is always gone...the truth is we never fully know what our kids have to face outside of school.  We can judge them, we can be angry, we can label them as "problems" or "bad", but what does that really solve? Absolutely nothing!  I'm sick of seeing teachers, administrators and parents write kids off and fail to see their potential.  Our kids AT LEAST deserve adults who consistently show them care and an unconditional hope that they can succeed.

This student also is constantly being bullied even though he is easily the biggest kid in 7th grade, and on Tuesday another boy in our class got arrested because he beat him up so badly.  This cycle of lack of care needs to be reversed because it starts so young, and I believe this can be done through the educational system!

Some o' the ninos

I'm getting emotional as I write this for many reasons.  One, because I'm going to miss the crap out my students, Everett Middle School, San Francisco and the group I am with. The transition back to life at Whitworth is going to be quite a shock to the system. Secondly, because I have learned so, so much about myself personally, as a teacher and what it means to be a part of the most diverse country in the world and I am utterly grateful that I have had this opportunity to help and be helped, to teach and be taught, to love and be loved.

10 Random Things I Have Learned in San Francisco

1. The best classroom management is student e

ngagement in learning! Oh the kids aren't focused? Yeah, well half the time your lesson is boring...so I don't blame them!

2. With kids of color, be very direct in your approach to them. Cut the crap and tell them exactly what you mean!

3. There actually is such thing as sunshine in this world.

4. As much I hate to admit this, the standard of your classroom has to vary according to where you are and whom you are working with.  Be fluid and adaptive in your ideas about good teaching!

5. I learned that I definitely want to work with middle schoolers because they are hilarious, awkward and have so much energy that just needs to be channeled.

6. The bus...literally the place where you will have the weirdest and funniest experiences (some wrought with a TON of cultural tension)

7. I have learned that even the worse situations (like the awful fight) can be used for amazing positivity and growth.

8. The morning sucks! But coffee will turn me into 

a human and will make me sane when I have to get up before the crack of dawn.  But I will always be bitter about a teacher’s schedule J

9.  If my students can come to by class after not even having a home to sleep in or food to eat, I can damn sure come to class and be prepared, consistent and positive!

And I was the only one who did the "crazy" ha...

10.  Most importantly, I have learned that whether you are a white kid in suburban Spokane or kid of color in inner-city San Francisco, you just want to be respected, given a good education, and cared about---and you deserve it!