It was my intention to keep a written account of all of the goings-ons in my student teaching experience this summer. I realize now that that idea was a tad naive, considering that I barely got any sleep. SO, in order to get things up to speed, I will recount the events of the summer and lay the groundwork for the upcoming weeks.
Teach for America - Chicago Institute '09: "Be the Change"
Background information: The TFA Summer Institute is a 5 week intensive training period for Teach for America corps members (aka CMs). During the course of this program, CMs are required to co-teach in summer school classes across the city as well as take courses during the day in curriculum planning, secondary literacy, and diversity competency.
When I checked into the TFA Institute in June, I learned that I was assigned to teach at Harlan Community Academy High School at 95th and Michigan. Luckily, I had already been to the school previously for an interview and was familiar with the area. The school has a great atmosphere and really offers students an abundance of resources. My personal favorite is the "Grub Club" that teachers students about growing their own food organically so as to limit their carbon footprint. **More details on this later**
However, I was startled to see that I, a resident biologist, would be teaching high school English with the Freshman Connection program (a city-wide effort to prepare recently-graduated 8th graders for high school level courses). It was an interesting challenge for me, since I have not taken a hardcore English class since my freshman year in college. I tried to keep it positive - to pretend that I was not a fish out of water...then came the first day of class...
After one week of strictly classroom-based training, i.e. learning how to write lesson plans and get kids engaged, my collaborative of co-teachers and I were in front of a group of students. I was equipped with a detailed lesson plan about drawing conclusions, complete with what were described as 9th-grade level readings. What I came to find was that all of these papers I came in with might as well have been kindling to a fire. I made the fundamental mistake of not knowing my audience, and it showed. Many of my students were not reading at 8-9th grade reading level, but rather at a 4-5th grade reading level. And, because many of them felt as though there was no way that they were going to get the material, a lot of them basically shut down. This was my first day and already my students were starting to give up. At the end of my 45 minute lesson, I was so disappointed in myself that I could barely keep from crying the rest of the day. We have all dealt with failure before, but the scene changes when that failure affects more than just yourself.
I went home that first night to ponder my shortcomings and think about where exactly I went wrong. My answer: I had not gotten the point about the achievement gap in America. I had adequately convinced myself and my peers that I understood the real situations that students in underserved areas face with respect to education, but I had never let the reality penetrate my consciousness.
One of the best aspects of the summer was that I was able to get to know my students very well.
Now, I am not going to pretend that the skies opened up and, in that instant, the lives of all of my students changed. That is NOT what happened. However, what both my students and I were able to take away from the experience were some helpful ways of approaching learning and teaching. The result of this arduous 5 weeks may not have been life-changing for my students (although I would hope that they came away with knowledge that they will apply in high school), but it was certainly life-changing for me. It was just the experience that I needed to fortify my resolve for the coming year.
Teach for America - Chicago Institute '09: "Be the Change"
Background information: The TFA Summer Institute is a 5 week intensive training period for Teach for America corps members (aka CMs). During the course of this program, CMs are required to co-teach in summer school classes across the city as well as take courses during the day in curriculum planning, secondary literacy, and diversity competency.
When I checked into the TFA Institute in June, I learned that I was assigned to teach at Harlan Community Academy High School at 95th and Michigan. Luckily, I had already been to the school previously for an interview and was familiar with the area. The school has a great atmosphere and really offers students an abundance of resources. My personal favorite is the "Grub Club" that teachers students about growing their own food organically so as to limit their carbon footprint. **More details on this later**
However, I was startled to see that I, a resident biologist, would be teaching high school English with the Freshman Connection program (a city-wide effort to prepare recently-graduated 8th graders for high school level courses). It was an interesting challenge for me, since I have not taken a hardcore English class since my freshman year in college. I tried to keep it positive - to pretend that I was not a fish out of water...then came the first day of class...
After one week of strictly classroom-based training, i.e. learning how to write lesson plans and get kids engaged, my collaborative of co-teachers and I were in front of a group of students. I was equipped with a detailed lesson plan about drawing conclusions, complete with what were described as 9th-grade level readings. What I came to find was that all of these papers I came in with might as well have been kindling to a fire. I made the fundamental mistake of not knowing my audience, and it showed. Many of my students were not reading at 8-9th grade reading level, but rather at a 4-5th grade reading level. And, because many of them felt as though there was no way that they were going to get the material, a lot of them basically shut down. This was my first day and already my students were starting to give up. At the end of my 45 minute lesson, I was so disappointed in myself that I could barely keep from crying the rest of the day. We have all dealt with failure before, but the scene changes when that failure affects more than just yourself.
I went home that first night to ponder my shortcomings and think about where exactly I went wrong. My answer: I had not gotten the point about the achievement gap in America. I had adequately convinced myself and my peers that I understood the real situations that students in underserved areas face with respect to education, but I had never let the reality penetrate my consciousness.
Facts:I had gone in with this knowledge, but I also had my own schema of what education looked like in practice. All I knew was how I was educated, I didn't know what the achievement gap meant to my students and how I would have to tailor my teaching to address the realities. My initial answer was to go to the data and see where my kids were at before I went through like a bull in a china shop. The next day that I went in to teach, I was prepared with information that would actually benefit my students. I cut the readings down and established what exactly I wanted them to take away from the class in the end.
By the time they are in 4th grade, students in low-income areas are an average of 3 grade levels behind their peers in high-income areas. (US Department of Education)
States use reading statistics to determine how many prisons should be built. (Cushman, Democracy and Equality: CES's Tenth Common Principle)
One of the best aspects of the summer was that I was able to get to know my students very well.
Now, I am not going to pretend that the skies opened up and, in that instant, the lives of all of my students changed. That is NOT what happened. However, what both my students and I were able to take away from the experience were some helpful ways of approaching learning and teaching. The result of this arduous 5 weeks may not have been life-changing for my students (although I would hope that they came away with knowledge that they will apply in high school), but it was certainly life-changing for me. It was just the experience that I needed to fortify my resolve for the coming year.
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