For the Kids!

Man, oh, man! It's been two weeks since I arrived in Houston and began my Teach for America Institute adventures! I don't even know where to begin explaining, but I guess I can start with the title of my post - For the Kids! So, there are interesting (and even the word "interesting" is a gross understatement in this case) dynamics encompassing my TFA Institute experience. As corps members, we learn new things every day -- and most days that turns into several new things -- some of which are overwhelming, frustrating or just simply AMAZING. Either way, most deliveries of the new tidbits of information are followed by choral "it's for the kids" reference from us. This is commonly abbreviated "FTK, guys. FTK." 

Although this phrase has grown into a comedic relief for our everyday relations, I'd like to take the time to explain the less nuanced and more vital meaning of these words. 

I am teaching a summer school class of twenty 8th grade students. Repeat - I am teaching a class of twenty 8th grade students!!! Phew! -- It took a while to sink in for me too :) Although the first week of my time in Houston was not spent in a classroom, I definitely feel like I've been with my students for more than 5 school days. I learn more and more about each of them every day -- whether that's during our hour of 2nd period together or when I'm back in my room at night reading their work. With every passing moment and with each word my students attempt to write, I realize that the "FTK" phrase  essentially describes the responsibility I have every single day to give my absolute best for these kids. 

These days I am describing of intense responsibility and urgency begin at 5:15AM and typically end around 11PM. I get up and get ready for work, eat breakfast, ride the bus and arrive to school at 7:15AM, have a planning hour, teach 2nd period, grade papers over a 20 minute power-lunch, sit in curriculum and literacy sessions/strategic meetings until 4PM, ride back to Rice, prepare and print my materials for the next day, eat dinner, lesson plan, evaluate and strategize about the individual needs of my kids and typically stop working around 11PM (of course, a quick phone call to Momma and Matt falls in there somewhere before bedtime). Sounds exhausting, right?! "FTK, guys, FTK."  :)

My mom put it best today when we were discussing how badly I miss home, but also about how much this experience has already meant to me. Although we both knew it wasn't 100% accurate to say I "love" my days so far from home, she said she could tell I was fulfilled. I have a brilliant momma! That's exactly it! I could write forever about each of my students (can you imagine what I'll be like in August when I have my own students for a year of school!?). I've never been so emotionally or physically exhausted. Especially after weekends like this one with balancing needs and expectations we have as TFA teachers with those of veteran teachers and school administrators, the "FTK" phrase will never be more appropriate -- nor will the description of fulfillment ever be tarnished by the experiences I've already had. And I have three more weeks of incredible learning and interactions to come!

I know that this post is not altogether specific about my every day happenings, but there truly is just too much to describe. When I've had a little time to talk to my sweet friends on the weekends, I unfortunately don't usually have much more to say than "it's just overwhelming -- and interesting -- and really awesome," because even this girl who loves to talk and paint a picture for my readers just can't put Institute into words.  I hope, at least, that each of you will be able to think about me and the students in whom I'm trying to invest deeply and utter a sincere "FTK" every now and then :) 

I'm excited to share more specific stories soon about my kids, as we're beginning the adventure of writing personal narratives :) Please keep my 8th graders in your prayers. I have some big hurdles to jump in the next few days as I customize plans for certain students in my class who are sadly so far behind where they should be to move on to 9th grade and continue high school to graduation and college!

"You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. This I command you, that you love one another."


John 15:16-17

Use my hands, use my feet ...

My current writing position is mobile! Matt met me in Jacksonville today around noon and we got truckin' towards Houston. Our road trip comes after a 5-day Teach for America Induction extravaganza. I've told Matt several times in the past few minutes how I want to post every detail of the past several days, but it would probably take hours for yall to read :)

The purpose of TFA Induction week was to acquaint us with the new city in which we will be living and teaching. Many of our hours were spent in sessions presented by the Jacksonville staff regarding our mission, our core values, the Duval County Public Schools' (DCPS) statistics and specific information on the achievement gap across the country. Each evening a major TFA Jax donor hosted a dinner for the 2010 corps members. On Wednesday we spent time with several precious elderly philanthropists at the Cummer Art Museum and Gardens where we received a yearly membership. I spoke to an 86-year-old man who attended VMI following the Pearl Harbor attack, fought in the Korean war and was then educated at Princeton )he also told me about his 24 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren!). He was incredibly passionate and was filled with a real sense of possibility even after spending decades surrounded by the declining state of DCPS. I was able to share with him that two of my interviews that morning were with principals of the most challenged middles schools in Jacksonville. He looked me in the eyes and told me he knew I would make a difference. Of course, he didn't know much about me, but as we spoke about my desire to get to know each student in my class and attend their sporting events or after school activities, he said that those relationships will build mutual respect and trust and my credibility as I strive for my students to accomplish big goals.

Since I can't explain every emotion or piece of information I gathered, I'd like to highlight one of my favorite activities of the week. On Wednesday we took a bus tour of the city -- a majority of which took place in the Northwest quadrant where I will be teaching. It was here that our tour guide shared extremely interesting insights into the history of Jacksonville throughout the Civil War, the Great Fire which burned down most every building in Downtown Jacksonville and continued to the present systemics. He explained the several years of tension and subsequent court cases following Brown v. Board of Education and also spoke of the implications of Interstate 95 being built and basically drawing a line through the center of the city. Although in my heart I felt like my tour guide and myself probably believed different things about  how people reacted to each of these historical moments, it was most interesting to hear someone so deeply invested in Jacksonville speak about the neighborhoods where my students live. He implored each of us to appreciate these neighborhoods as more than a home for our students -- they don't just contain houses, streets and convenience stores -- they are a way of life and, to some, an identification.

I could write on and on about the information I was presented with this week, but I'm sure it will be applied to another post throughout the next year :) Right now, Matt and I are driving on a bridge in Pensecola, and I cannot imagine a more beautiful setting from which to post this blog! I miss you, my dear family and friends. Life is about to get real crazy as I embark upon my time at TFA Houston Institute. Please pray for the students I will be teaching in summer school. Please pray for my patience and persistence as everything I will learn and be coached through will be brand new. Additionally, please pray that I will function adequately with very little sleep!

Although all my previous closings have been the Bible verses that inspired each post, I will leave you today with the song lyrics that were not only the inspiration for this post but were the pivotal words I learned as I decided to join the Teach for America movement. These lyrics have become my anthem, if you will, for the next year of teaching:

You lived among the least of these
The weary and the weak
And it would be a tragedy for me to turn away.

All my needs you have supplied.
When I was dead you gave me life.
How could I not give it away so freely?

And I'll follow you into the homes that are broken.
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy, God.
Follow you into the World.

Use my hands, use my feet - to make your kingdom come
Through the corners of the earth, until your work is done

'Cause Faith without works is dead
And on the cross your blood was shed

So how could I not give it away so freely?

And I'll follow you into the homes that are broken.
Follow you into the world.
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy God.
Follow you into the World.

FOLLOW YOU by Leeland