I miss you all.
-Shadow
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
In thanks and to honor 15 OUTSTANDING University of Maryland students!!!!
(Sung to the tune of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer)
You know---
Lien, Lissett, Elma, Brian, Kim, Katie, Christina, Matt and Clare—
Arturo, Christine, Sita, Holly, Sophie and Alicia (who isn’t here).
But do you recall
The most famous Terrapin of all?
Testudo, the good luck turtle,
Best mascot in all the land.
Testudo who sits on campus
In College Park, Maryland.
All of the other mascots
Wish that they were Testudo.
If they had his magic powers,
They could watch your fortunes grow.
What’s your wish? Testudo can help.
Law school ... Med school … Job at KIPP (middle school only)
Exams … Cash flow … And Argentina,
Boys and girls relationships.
Testudo, the good luck Terrapin,
Lucky us, we have our own,
Reminding us of your awesomeness,
Tied up with a nice red bow.
**Copied and pasted from Rachel's email to us :-)**
(Sung to the tune of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer)
You know---
Lien, Lissett, Elma, Brian, Kim, Katie, Christina, Matt and Clare—
Arturo, Christine, Sita, Holly, Sophie and Alicia (who isn’t here).
But do you recall
The most famous Terrapin of all?
Testudo, the good luck turtle,
Best mascot in all the land.
Testudo who sits on campus
In College Park, Maryland.
All of the other mascots
Wish that they were Testudo.
If they had his magic powers,
They could watch your fortunes grow.
What’s your wish? Testudo can help.
Law school ... Med school … Job at KIPP (middle school only)
Exams … Cash flow … And Argentina,
Boys and girls relationships.
Testudo, the good luck Terrapin,
Lucky us, we have our own,
Reminding us of your awesomeness,
Tied up with a nice red bow.
**Copied and pasted from Rachel's email to us :-)**
Team Journal
I feel so lucky to have had such an amazing experience, gotten to know some of the most interesting and selfless people the world has to offer (ie. Jim & Rachel Lander, Pat Wu, our participants) and learned about education in such a truly unique and accelerated way that have all transformed the way I look at the world in just 10 short, short days.
I am truly thankful that Clare and my #1 goal of group cohesiveness was achieved and completely surpassed. We wanted everyone to walk away with something special, with more knowledge of the challenges rural educators face, and with memorable friendships. So, it warmed me to think that everyone had such an enjoyable experience that plans are in the works to come back and continue our relationship with KIPP, with NW Halifax, with the Landers, and with the students of the surrounding towns of Gaston.
Thank you to everyone in our group - I learned so much from all of you and felt so close in such a short time. Thank you to the Landers for actually being more hospitable and generous than I ever thought was possible. Thank you to Pat Wu for being an inspiration to work hard and be nice.
-Elma
And, without further delay - here is our team journal :-)
I am truly thankful that Clare and my #1 goal of group cohesiveness was achieved and completely surpassed. We wanted everyone to walk away with something special, with more knowledge of the challenges rural educators face, and with memorable friendships. So, it warmed me to think that everyone had such an enjoyable experience that plans are in the works to come back and continue our relationship with KIPP, with NW Halifax, with the Landers, and with the students of the surrounding towns of Gaston.
Thank you to everyone in our group - I learned so much from all of you and felt so close in such a short time. Thank you to the Landers for actually being more hospitable and generous than I ever thought was possible. Thank you to Pat Wu for being an inspiration to work hard and be nice.
-Elma
And, without further delay - here is our team journal :-)
Sunday, January 24, 2010
K is for kids who made us laugh.
One of the most memorable things about my 10 days in Gaston is all the funny things that the kids that we worked with said. On the first day of Holly's class, she was explaining a story about a 20-something girl who was telling her father that she was marrying her 60-something professor. Some of the kids in the class shouted, "get it!" and "she must get good grades!" In one of Brian's classes a kid asked, "can I bring in magnesium metal tomorrow?" to which Brian responded, "what does that do?" The kid responds, "oh, it just explodes..." On the day that I got to teach Ms. Hatchell's environmental science class, a kid came up to me after class and said, "Ms. Le, do you play sports? because your calves are really big!" (To which I responded, no, they're just fat. :)) Getting to work with the students of KIPP and GCP was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.
I is for I love the Landers.
The Landers were the best! They opened their beautiful lake home to us and from the start were very accommodating. When we posed the question, "chocolate or vanilla?" at dinnertime to sneakily attempt to find out what kind of cake Rachel would like for her birthday, she ended up buying chocolate and vanilla items for us the following day! We always came home to little surprises like that. I can honestly say that we all felt at home and that being in their home added a lot to the trip.
P is for persistent teachers who work from dawn to dusk to dawn again.
The teachers at KIPP were the most inspiring part of the trip for me. They come in well before school starts at 8 am and stay well past 5 pm. By the time they get home, they are too tired to do much more than pass out over a pile of papers (or so I imagine). It is really great to know that some of the hardest working people in the country are in the trenches everyday, working to improve the educational experience for the future leaders of the world.
P is for the participants.
I could not have imagined a better group! We all meshed really well and had such a fun time (when we were not teaching or napping). Among many, many games of catch phrase, taboo, apples to apples, jenga, hot seat, cranium, and oh, yes, mafia, we had a good time. Oh, and I can't forget the loud sing alongs we had in the car/the makeshift karaoke basement. :)
G is for Gaston.
I can't say that I could ever move to a rural town, but I can say that I loved the "road ends 1 mile" signs, the Hardee's in the middle of town and the Piggly Wiggly. The nice thing about being in a small town is that everyone knows each other so everyone works together. When some of us began to teach during intersession, we would drive to school together and I felt just like the teachers at school, bagged lunches in hand, setting out on another important day. I really like the sense of support that the teachers give and receive from one another. It makes the school really special.
A is for Arturo and his Arturisms.
You would have to ask Matt for more info on this, but in a nut shell, Arturo taught us about the importance of communication and the human factor (both of which are fan-tast-ic). I'm sure Arturo still has much to teach us! (And many more questions to ask us since his is a very curious person...)
S is for spell silicone backwards.
Brian: "N." ... Matt: "Are you stupid?!"
I love how Cranium brings out the love in people!
(s is also for sending love.)
T is for trip leaders, Clare and Elma.
CLARE AND ELMA ARE THE BEST! :) They planned such an awesome trip where there was never a dull moment. It would not have been the same without Clare's morning face and Elma's relentless energy. Not to mention our thought-provoking communities and list of house rules (don't eat all the cookies and if you're here, be here). A big thank you to you guys :)
O is for "Oh my gosh, there are cockroach eggs everywhere."
Working on the Habitat house was one of the most memorable times on the trip. I was personally horrified at the idea of working on the house. On the outside it looked perfectly normal but on the inside, it was completely different. Most people who know me know that I am a neat freak and that I love all animals in the world but I don't count bugs. I feel the opposite of love towards bugs. And the house was not in shortage of them. Besides the fact that I was walking into two of my biggest physical fears, it honestly broke my heart to see the inside of this house, to see pictures of children who used to call it their home and to think that people everywhere, on a daily basis live in these awful conditions. I really hope that the family is doing better and that the next family that moves into the house has a happy future. I really think what Habitat does is awesome.
N is for nap time.
The Lander's house and the benchmark room's floor are the best places to nap. I have been known to take a 4 hour nap on the couch before.
And now for just random things that make me laugh:
"I have no voice." - Christine, upon receiving a paper slip that says, "You are homeless. You have no voice."
Elma grabbing girls during Cranium to act out "chick magnet".
Brian and Arturo jumping into the freezing cold lake.
Katie's issue with clapping/coordination.
Dance parties in the vans.
And every game of mafia.
It was my favorite AB trip so far. :) And I learned a lot. Including how hard teachers work and how willing students can be in a subject that intrigues them. On one of the days that I taught environmental science, I asked my students a series of questions, such as "what makes a good teacher? what makes a good student? why aren't students always good students?" They let me know that they have the ability but are not always self-motivated to learn. They do believe, however, that an inspired, engaging and personable teacher can sometimes push them to do so. This trip really makes me want to teach even more next year.
Thank you to everyone for making this trip what it was!
Lien
I is for I love the Landers.
The Landers were the best! They opened their beautiful lake home to us and from the start were very accommodating. When we posed the question, "chocolate or vanilla?" at dinnertime to sneakily attempt to find out what kind of cake Rachel would like for her birthday, she ended up buying chocolate and vanilla items for us the following day! We always came home to little surprises like that. I can honestly say that we all felt at home and that being in their home added a lot to the trip.
P is for persistent teachers who work from dawn to dusk to dawn again.
The teachers at KIPP were the most inspiring part of the trip for me. They come in well before school starts at 8 am and stay well past 5 pm. By the time they get home, they are too tired to do much more than pass out over a pile of papers (or so I imagine). It is really great to know that some of the hardest working people in the country are in the trenches everyday, working to improve the educational experience for the future leaders of the world.
P is for the participants.
I could not have imagined a better group! We all meshed really well and had such a fun time (when we were not teaching or napping). Among many, many games of catch phrase, taboo, apples to apples, jenga, hot seat, cranium, and oh, yes, mafia, we had a good time. Oh, and I can't forget the loud sing alongs we had in the car/the makeshift karaoke basement. :)
G is for Gaston.
I can't say that I could ever move to a rural town, but I can say that I loved the "road ends 1 mile" signs, the Hardee's in the middle of town and the Piggly Wiggly. The nice thing about being in a small town is that everyone knows each other so everyone works together. When some of us began to teach during intersession, we would drive to school together and I felt just like the teachers at school, bagged lunches in hand, setting out on another important day. I really like the sense of support that the teachers give and receive from one another. It makes the school really special.
A is for Arturo and his Arturisms.
You would have to ask Matt for more info on this, but in a nut shell, Arturo taught us about the importance of communication and the human factor (both of which are fan-tast-ic). I'm sure Arturo still has much to teach us! (And many more questions to ask us since his is a very curious person...)
S is for spell silicone backwards.
Brian: "N." ... Matt: "Are you stupid?!"
I love how Cranium brings out the love in people!
(s is also for sending love.)
T is for trip leaders, Clare and Elma.
CLARE AND ELMA ARE THE BEST! :) They planned such an awesome trip where there was never a dull moment. It would not have been the same without Clare's morning face and Elma's relentless energy. Not to mention our thought-provoking communities and list of house rules (don't eat all the cookies and if you're here, be here). A big thank you to you guys :)
O is for "Oh my gosh, there are cockroach eggs everywhere."
Working on the Habitat house was one of the most memorable times on the trip. I was personally horrified at the idea of working on the house. On the outside it looked perfectly normal but on the inside, it was completely different. Most people who know me know that I am a neat freak and that I love all animals in the world but I don't count bugs. I feel the opposite of love towards bugs. And the house was not in shortage of them. Besides the fact that I was walking into two of my biggest physical fears, it honestly broke my heart to see the inside of this house, to see pictures of children who used to call it their home and to think that people everywhere, on a daily basis live in these awful conditions. I really hope that the family is doing better and that the next family that moves into the house has a happy future. I really think what Habitat does is awesome.
N is for nap time.
The Lander's house and the benchmark room's floor are the best places to nap. I have been known to take a 4 hour nap on the couch before.
And now for just random things that make me laugh:
"I have no voice." - Christine, upon receiving a paper slip that says, "You are homeless. You have no voice."
Elma grabbing girls during Cranium to act out "chick magnet".
Brian and Arturo jumping into the freezing cold lake.
Katie's issue with clapping/coordination.
Dance parties in the vans.
And every game of mafia.
It was my favorite AB trip so far. :) And I learned a lot. Including how hard teachers work and how willing students can be in a subject that intrigues them. On one of the days that I taught environmental science, I asked my students a series of questions, such as "what makes a good teacher? what makes a good student? why aren't students always good students?" They let me know that they have the ability but are not always self-motivated to learn. They do believe, however, that an inspired, engaging and personable teacher can sometimes push them to do so. This trip really makes me want to teach even more next year.
Thank you to everyone for making this trip what it was!
Lien
Heaven seems a little close with a house next to a lake...
When I first came to Mr. and Mrs. Lander's house and read that little plaque that hangs on the kitchen, I didn't know what it meant. In fact, I didn't know what to expect out of this trip...
* Was it going to be a good time?
* Would I get along with everyone or, for that matter, were we all going to get along with each other?
* Was our lodging be able to accommodate us all and be comfortable for our needs?
* What about logistics that were out of our hands? Food? Showers? Sleeping arrangements...
These and many other questions wondered my mind even as I was driving to Gaston last week; however, as this trip comes to an end and we spend our last day in the High School, Middle school, and the students, I've came a little closer to understanding that plaque that still hangs on the kitchen and I read everyday.
The reality is, what isn't there to like about this town? Everyone is so respectful and welcoming; the students greet you when you walk down the halls and are not afraid to spark new conversations laughing along our silly jokes and games. The middle school is very well structured and I felt that the students get a solid-built foundation that will be with them for the rest of their lives. They're treated with respect, integrity, and honest teachers that truly care about their work and education. Never have I seen such dedication from educators towards students and after speaking with a majority of them, it's almost like they NEVER give up! It's amazing how much stamina and desire every single teacher has towards every single student's success and ability to perform. The first week that we were here we did a lot of tracking, grading, but also interacted with a lot of these kids that can make you laugh every sigle minute of the day. Over the weekend I had some of the most fun I've had in a while... We BBQ, watched football games, played Jenga (Xtreme Edition), played Cranium, and just talked about everything we could talk about.
The high school was a little different but yet so rewarding. I taught "Sports and Life skills" with Matt and it was such a great experience. Initially, we didn't know what to do during those 3 days. Should be teach materials during all the class? Make a powerpoint presentation? play sports with the class? talk about college or just watch a movie? Well, in reality we did all those things! The first day we introduced ourselves and got to know each student and as soon as they knew we were going to play Football in the Gym they were really excited and liked the idea. During the other days we covered a lot of different topics and subjects, we showed them a video of Jimmy V and Randy Pausch and discussed them accordingly. Furthermore, we talked about college, the recruitment process, and how important it is to focus on a goal and do whatever it takes to get there. Matt and I really tried to make the class as enjoyable as possible while expressing a very realistic approach to college and how different it is from High School. Overall, I really cherish the times we spent in class talking about their futures as well as the time we spent being their team mates on the court. We provided them with our emails to keep in touch or to have some of their answers about colleges or universities answered and I truly hope some of them take the initiative to do so.
This trip meant a lot to me and I'm sad to be back in Maryland, but at the same time truly blessed to have experienced the last days of my Winter break with such wonderful participants while meeting new people from all over the place.
Arturo Chang
* Was it going to be a good time?
* Would I get along with everyone or, for that matter, were we all going to get along with each other?
* Was our lodging be able to accommodate us all and be comfortable for our needs?
* What about logistics that were out of our hands? Food? Showers? Sleeping arrangements...
These and many other questions wondered my mind even as I was driving to Gaston last week; however, as this trip comes to an end and we spend our last day in the High School, Middle school, and the students, I've came a little closer to understanding that plaque that still hangs on the kitchen and I read everyday.
The reality is, what isn't there to like about this town? Everyone is so respectful and welcoming; the students greet you when you walk down the halls and are not afraid to spark new conversations laughing along our silly jokes and games. The middle school is very well structured and I felt that the students get a solid-built foundation that will be with them for the rest of their lives. They're treated with respect, integrity, and honest teachers that truly care about their work and education. Never have I seen such dedication from educators towards students and after speaking with a majority of them, it's almost like they NEVER give up! It's amazing how much stamina and desire every single teacher has towards every single student's success and ability to perform. The first week that we were here we did a lot of tracking, grading, but also interacted with a lot of these kids that can make you laugh every sigle minute of the day. Over the weekend I had some of the most fun I've had in a while... We BBQ, watched football games, played Jenga (Xtreme Edition), played Cranium, and just talked about everything we could talk about.
The high school was a little different but yet so rewarding. I taught "Sports and Life skills" with Matt and it was such a great experience. Initially, we didn't know what to do during those 3 days. Should be teach materials during all the class? Make a powerpoint presentation? play sports with the class? talk about college or just watch a movie? Well, in reality we did all those things! The first day we introduced ourselves and got to know each student and as soon as they knew we were going to play Football in the Gym they were really excited and liked the idea. During the other days we covered a lot of different topics and subjects, we showed them a video of Jimmy V and Randy Pausch and discussed them accordingly. Furthermore, we talked about college, the recruitment process, and how important it is to focus on a goal and do whatever it takes to get there. Matt and I really tried to make the class as enjoyable as possible while expressing a very realistic approach to college and how different it is from High School. Overall, I really cherish the times we spent in class talking about their futures as well as the time we spent being their team mates on the court. We provided them with our emails to keep in touch or to have some of their answers about colleges or universities answered and I truly hope some of them take the initiative to do so.
This trip meant a lot to me and I'm sad to be back in Maryland, but at the same time truly blessed to have experienced the last days of my Winter break with such wonderful participants while meeting new people from all over the place.
Arturo Chang
Home Again, Home Again But Still Looking South
Last night I was so sleep deprived I fell asleep hours before what is usually considered socially acceptable for a Saturday night on a college campus. And unfortunately I was in Gaston long enough to have set my internal clock to wake up at 6:30am...
It is certainly nice to be home, yet I miss watching the sunrise over the lake, Christine's humor, the students excited faces, and so many more little things that made this trip to Gaston amazing. We ended our week at the school with 6th grade Pride Time, where we got to know some students even better and had them make costumes out of toilet paper, letting them essentially play for the last half an hour of their Friday while still working on skills such as team work and communication. It was an excellent note to end on, but it also made leaving that much harder. After having such a long week of teaching, waking up at hours some of us aren't used to (Clare), and dealing with disciple issues in the high school, it was wonderful to be able to relax and enjoy getting to know some of the amazing middle school students.
This was my fifth Alternative Break trip I have taken through the University of Maryland, and my last. A number of people told me not to return to an issue and location that I had already experienced, to branch out to learn about a new issue and experience a new culture. But going on this trip again was the best choice I could have made. I was so lucky to love the issue, location, and both trip leaders- I knew the trip would be amazing this year before Clare and Elma even started planning, and it WAS. I could not have asked to end my AB experience on a higher note, with a more energetic, caring, and thoughtful group of students all falling in love with a school Clare, Elma and I had fallen in love with over the past year.
I also want to say that I am glad that everyone on the trip did not fall blindly in love with the school, but rather loved it while they critiqued it. For the most part we listened to what the high school principal had to say about warning us against thinking that KIPP is the solution. KIPP is a charter school but what we need to fix are the public schools; we can be on the KIPP bandwagon until we find something better, something that aims to solve the issue of education on a wider scale. While we all agree that the middle school is something more than special, something that can give you chills when you realize the implications of what they are accomplishing and how much the students get out of the unique culture they have established, we need to keep in mind that there are hundreds of thousands of students that aren't at KIPP. These students need a solution too, and replicating the culture of KIPP in every school may not be realistic. However, the students in the area surrounding Gaston are truly lucky to have the chance to attend this school, and years down the line it pays off in the form of an influx of college acceptance letters and scholarship money.
This trip was not only about rural education and charter schools, but also about the lives of teachers. Through out our service activities we learned about how hard of a job it really is, how long tracking REALLY takes, how much time lesson planning for three days takes, and how important it is to step into a classroom energetic and prepared. Some of us struggled to keep our students interested, and some were conflicted about being upset at the disrespect a few students showed while remembering ourselves as acting the same way in high school. One of my own students came up to me on my last day of teaching intercession and apologized for her classmates. She said she thinks some of the other students acted the way that they did since as college students we are so close to their age, we could almost be a brother or a sister. However, she wanted me to know that because of our age she respected us even more, saying that it takes a lot to go down there, and teach (for many of us- for the first time), noting that she knew it was an experience that was likely more difficult for us than some of the other (older, more experienced) intercession teachers. Hearing that meant a lot to me, and I know the other UMD students I passed the message on to appreciated it too. The job of a teacher is certainly something all of us walked away with a deeper understanding of and a greater sense of respect for.
Thank you to all the teachers who talked with us about their experience at GCP, let us invade their personal space, and bought us delicious cookie cake. Thank you Rachel and Jim for letting us stay in your AMAZING home, and a special thank you to the students for greeting us every day with a smile. (We're already talking about driving down for the 5k race, over the summer, and/or for a fund-raising basketball game.)
It was 10 days I can guarantee none of us will forget.
-Sophie
It is certainly nice to be home, yet I miss watching the sunrise over the lake, Christine's humor, the students excited faces, and so many more little things that made this trip to Gaston amazing. We ended our week at the school with 6th grade Pride Time, where we got to know some students even better and had them make costumes out of toilet paper, letting them essentially play for the last half an hour of their Friday while still working on skills such as team work and communication. It was an excellent note to end on, but it also made leaving that much harder. After having such a long week of teaching, waking up at hours some of us aren't used to (Clare), and dealing with disciple issues in the high school, it was wonderful to be able to relax and enjoy getting to know some of the amazing middle school students.
This was my fifth Alternative Break trip I have taken through the University of Maryland, and my last. A number of people told me not to return to an issue and location that I had already experienced, to branch out to learn about a new issue and experience a new culture. But going on this trip again was the best choice I could have made. I was so lucky to love the issue, location, and both trip leaders- I knew the trip would be amazing this year before Clare and Elma even started planning, and it WAS. I could not have asked to end my AB experience on a higher note, with a more energetic, caring, and thoughtful group of students all falling in love with a school Clare, Elma and I had fallen in love with over the past year.
I also want to say that I am glad that everyone on the trip did not fall blindly in love with the school, but rather loved it while they critiqued it. For the most part we listened to what the high school principal had to say about warning us against thinking that KIPP is the solution. KIPP is a charter school but what we need to fix are the public schools; we can be on the KIPP bandwagon until we find something better, something that aims to solve the issue of education on a wider scale. While we all agree that the middle school is something more than special, something that can give you chills when you realize the implications of what they are accomplishing and how much the students get out of the unique culture they have established, we need to keep in mind that there are hundreds of thousands of students that aren't at KIPP. These students need a solution too, and replicating the culture of KIPP in every school may not be realistic. However, the students in the area surrounding Gaston are truly lucky to have the chance to attend this school, and years down the line it pays off in the form of an influx of college acceptance letters and scholarship money.
This trip was not only about rural education and charter schools, but also about the lives of teachers. Through out our service activities we learned about how hard of a job it really is, how long tracking REALLY takes, how much time lesson planning for three days takes, and how important it is to step into a classroom energetic and prepared. Some of us struggled to keep our students interested, and some were conflicted about being upset at the disrespect a few students showed while remembering ourselves as acting the same way in high school. One of my own students came up to me on my last day of teaching intercession and apologized for her classmates. She said she thinks some of the other students acted the way that they did since as college students we are so close to their age, we could almost be a brother or a sister. However, she wanted me to know that because of our age she respected us even more, saying that it takes a lot to go down there, and teach (for many of us- for the first time), noting that she knew it was an experience that was likely more difficult for us than some of the other (older, more experienced) intercession teachers. Hearing that meant a lot to me, and I know the other UMD students I passed the message on to appreciated it too. The job of a teacher is certainly something all of us walked away with a deeper understanding of and a greater sense of respect for.
Thank you to all the teachers who talked with us about their experience at GCP, let us invade their personal space, and bought us delicious cookie cake. Thank you Rachel and Jim for letting us stay in your AMAZING home, and a special thank you to the students for greeting us every day with a smile. (We're already talking about driving down for the 5k race, over the summer, and/or for a fund-raising basketball game.)
It was 10 days I can guarantee none of us will forget.
-Sophie
Friday, January 22, 2010
Another Long Day At KIPP but We Came Home to Some Yummy Turkey
So once again our day started off early at around 6:30. Or at least it did for me because I know Clare Bear is not a morning girl and tends to oversleep. Besides that once arriving to Kipp, Katie and I walked into Ms.Sullivan’s class to help her with her first morning lesson. She specified on the importance of number placement. Although the lesson was simple (well since it was 5th grade math) the lesson was fun because I got to go around the classroom and help students answer questions they had and guide them in how to solve problems. What I have learned that Ms. Sullivan stresses a lot is that we don’t want to be telling them the answer but helping them find new ways in how they can figure it out themselves.
After the first period class i decided to go to the high school and see how Cristine was doing with teaching her class about the history of AIDS and HIV. In the first five minutes of class, I knew i'd be really interested in her lesson. Christine is truly a good teacher in my opinion because she puts a lot of energy when speaking to her students and I know from experience that she puts a lot of work into her lessons. But anyways, the entire lesson was absolutely fantastic. She covered everything from what symptoms are prominent from the virus to how it was spread in the US. The students were really engaged in the conversation and many volunteered to raise their hands to ask questions. They were very well behaved, especially compared to other days.
Other than going to other people's classes, I graded some of the 5th grade kids science homework. At the end of the day everyone was exhausted and thanks to Rachel and Jim, we came home to some delicious turkey. We then played Catch Phrase and that got really intense. Around eight we attempted to go to Java Junction to sing karaoke. However, they were closed but fortunately the teachers invited us over to hang out. We played pool, did karaoke, and played video games. Then we returned to Rachel and Jim's to relax the rest of the night. Time is running out and soon we will be returning to College Park. I'm very excited but at the same time very sad :(
Lissett (Jersey Girl)
After the first period class i decided to go to the high school and see how Cristine was doing with teaching her class about the history of AIDS and HIV. In the first five minutes of class, I knew i'd be really interested in her lesson. Christine is truly a good teacher in my opinion because she puts a lot of energy when speaking to her students and I know from experience that she puts a lot of work into her lessons. But anyways, the entire lesson was absolutely fantastic. She covered everything from what symptoms are prominent from the virus to how it was spread in the US. The students were really engaged in the conversation and many volunteered to raise their hands to ask questions. They were very well behaved, especially compared to other days.
Other than going to other people's classes, I graded some of the 5th grade kids science homework. At the end of the day everyone was exhausted and thanks to Rachel and Jim, we came home to some delicious turkey. We then played Catch Phrase and that got really intense. Around eight we attempted to go to Java Junction to sing karaoke. However, they were closed but fortunately the teachers invited us over to hang out. We played pool, did karaoke, and played video games. Then we returned to Rachel and Jim's to relax the rest of the night. Time is running out and soon we will be returning to College Park. I'm very excited but at the same time very sad :(
Lissett (Jersey Girl)
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wait a second..could it be? I just added 14 people to my wolf pack.
Hello.
You might not know this, but I consider myself kind of a lone wolf. But where there was 1, now there is 15. We are now a pack of lone wolves.
Sorry for the delayed post, I was supposed to post this last night but got bogged down with lesson plans, bonfires, heart to hearts late at night in the mancave, working out, and manly stuff like that. Anyway, now that the trip is winding down I don't think its a stretch to say that this has been one of the most memorable 10 days of my life. Not to be corny/mushy, but the friends and memories that I've made on this trip will last a lifetime. I almost feel guilty because I feel like I got more out of KIPP Gaston than they did from me. Arturo and I were partners in an intercession class titled, "Sports and Life Skills". We covered many lessons that are transferrable between the two, and were able to show videos from Jimmy V, and Randy Pausch to our classes. At the end of our lecture we asked for some feedback, and thankfully not one person said a negative thing. That may have been because I intimidated them with my skills on the basketball court, and my rippling muscles..but I'd like to think otherwise :).
Kids will be kids everywhere, and the KIPP HS and Middle School were no different. But as a whole, the children were wonderful and were fun to be around. When preparing my lesson plan for the first day, I'll be the first to admit how nervous I was. At the time I did not consider myself a good public speaker, but after getting to spend 90 minutes for 3 days talking about something I love, sports. I think I developed skills that I will be able to apply into other aspects of my life.
Anyway, this post is getting wayyy too long, so I just wanted to give a shoutout to a couple of people. Brian Salyers taught a class on Fire Protection, and it was truly fascinating. I got to sit in on a couple of his lectures, and I felt like a kid watching his demonstrations on the characteristics of fire. Another shoutout to our awesome trip leaders, Clare and Elma and our staff advisor, Christina. They were amazing and this trip was about as close to flawless as possible.
My last shoutout is to the teachers at the middle school and high school. Wu, Cartwright, Russell, Naegele, Peter to name a few. But everyone we interacted with were awesome. They were all very helpful and enthusiastic in their dealings with us. The students at the KIPP Gaston schools are extremely lucky, and I can't see them doing anything other than succeeding!
-Matt
You might not know this, but I consider myself kind of a lone wolf. But where there was 1, now there is 15. We are now a pack of lone wolves.
Sorry for the delayed post, I was supposed to post this last night but got bogged down with lesson plans, bonfires, heart to hearts late at night in the mancave, working out, and manly stuff like that. Anyway, now that the trip is winding down I don't think its a stretch to say that this has been one of the most memorable 10 days of my life. Not to be corny/mushy, but the friends and memories that I've made on this trip will last a lifetime. I almost feel guilty because I feel like I got more out of KIPP Gaston than they did from me. Arturo and I were partners in an intercession class titled, "Sports and Life Skills". We covered many lessons that are transferrable between the two, and were able to show videos from Jimmy V, and Randy Pausch to our classes. At the end of our lecture we asked for some feedback, and thankfully not one person said a negative thing. That may have been because I intimidated them with my skills on the basketball court, and my rippling muscles..but I'd like to think otherwise :).
Kids will be kids everywhere, and the KIPP HS and Middle School were no different. But as a whole, the children were wonderful and were fun to be around. When preparing my lesson plan for the first day, I'll be the first to admit how nervous I was. At the time I did not consider myself a good public speaker, but after getting to spend 90 minutes for 3 days talking about something I love, sports. I think I developed skills that I will be able to apply into other aspects of my life.
Anyway, this post is getting wayyy too long, so I just wanted to give a shoutout to a couple of people. Brian Salyers taught a class on Fire Protection, and it was truly fascinating. I got to sit in on a couple of his lectures, and I felt like a kid watching his demonstrations on the characteristics of fire. Another shoutout to our awesome trip leaders, Clare and Elma and our staff advisor, Christina. They were amazing and this trip was about as close to flawless as possible.
My last shoutout is to the teachers at the middle school and high school. Wu, Cartwright, Russell, Naegele, Peter to name a few. But everyone we interacted with were awesome. They were all very helpful and enthusiastic in their dealings with us. The students at the KIPP Gaston schools are extremely lucky, and I can't see them doing anything other than succeeding!
-Matt
Thursday!!
Today was day three of teaching my intercession class, "Major Historical Events of the 20th Century." We've covered a lot of material so far, but today we were talking about HIV/AIDS. Yesterday I asked the class what they knew about HIV, and one student answered, "they say it came from the gays," so I was determined to clear up any myths and maybe teach them a thing or two about the outbreak of HIV in America. Throughout the lesson, they were all really interested, engaged, and full of thoughtful questions and comments. It was really encouraging. There is no better way to say it -- it just made me feel good.
Lien was kind enough to help me out by adding a 30 minute biology lesson to show them how the virus functions in the body and why scientists have no way to cure it. I really appreciate Lien taking on this lesson and I think the students benefited from it a great deal. We even had one particularly bright student offering suggestions to scientists as to how to combat the virus. The class was full of energy and just about everyone was actively paying attention. It was really nice and refreshing.
Teaching the intercession class has been extremely challenging, fulfilling, and thought-provoking. I'm really glad to have had this opportunity. It has truly opened my eyes. Working with the kids is... so many things. All the students have their own personalities, opinions, and attitudes (the sassy ones are particularly amusing). I really enjoy interacting with them, and I think they think I'm all right too. Yesterday I had a student tell me that I made history interesting for her. That made me feel really happy! And tomorrow we're playing jeopardy, so I think we will part on a good note.
I realize now how hard it is to be a teacher in high school and I feel bad for all the times I slept in class or didn't do my homework. I can't imagine acting that way now that I am two semesters away from graduating college. I have been thinking about what changed in me, and how I can convey those lessons to the students. Today I challenged them to think about WHY they are so bored and who benefits from their boredom. I asked them to think about what knowledge is, how much they have, and how they can get more. I encouraged them to think hard about what is wrong with society and what they can do to fix it. Their slogan is "Knowledge is Power," but sometimes I think they hear it so much that the meaning of the phrase is completely lost. I hope that is not the case.
Special thanks to Rachel and Jim for letting us stay in their beautiful home on the lake. Today they cooked us an amazing dinner of fried turkey, pineapple casserole, sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberry, and salad. WOW! I also want to say what an amazing effort our group leaders, Clare and Elma, are putting forth. I really appreciate everything they've done for us. I'm so glad to have gone on this trip!
- Christine
Lien was kind enough to help me out by adding a 30 minute biology lesson to show them how the virus functions in the body and why scientists have no way to cure it. I really appreciate Lien taking on this lesson and I think the students benefited from it a great deal. We even had one particularly bright student offering suggestions to scientists as to how to combat the virus. The class was full of energy and just about everyone was actively paying attention. It was really nice and refreshing.
Teaching the intercession class has been extremely challenging, fulfilling, and thought-provoking. I'm really glad to have had this opportunity. It has truly opened my eyes. Working with the kids is... so many things. All the students have their own personalities, opinions, and attitudes (the sassy ones are particularly amusing). I really enjoy interacting with them, and I think they think I'm all right too. Yesterday I had a student tell me that I made history interesting for her. That made me feel really happy! And tomorrow we're playing jeopardy, so I think we will part on a good note.
I realize now how hard it is to be a teacher in high school and I feel bad for all the times I slept in class or didn't do my homework. I can't imagine acting that way now that I am two semesters away from graduating college. I have been thinking about what changed in me, and how I can convey those lessons to the students. Today I challenged them to think about WHY they are so bored and who benefits from their boredom. I asked them to think about what knowledge is, how much they have, and how they can get more. I encouraged them to think hard about what is wrong with society and what they can do to fix it. Their slogan is "Knowledge is Power," but sometimes I think they hear it so much that the meaning of the phrase is completely lost. I hope that is not the case.
Special thanks to Rachel and Jim for letting us stay in their beautiful home on the lake. Today they cooked us an amazing dinner of fried turkey, pineapple casserole, sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberry, and salad. WOW! I also want to say what an amazing effort our group leaders, Clare and Elma, are putting forth. I really appreciate everything they've done for us. I'm so glad to have gone on this trip!
- Christine
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Back to Business
Today half of the group taught intersession classes while the other half helped out at the local public high school.
Today I taught class for the first time (a day of first, with this being my first blog). The first class was ok. I guess I was not stern enough, and the kids kept talking and not showing much respect. After getting advice from a couple teachers and the rest of our group, I went in more prepared for round 2. I held my ground and would not let kids chat or sleep but they would nottt shut up. Angry Brian had to come out a couple times because of some of the kids shenanigans. My 3rd class was great though. They all participated and our discussions were so long I only got halfway through. By then, my lesson was much better. I had fun today, but did see how much the kids are not quite the most mature...I guess I expected the KIPP high school to have a similar feel to the middle school, but I didn't see as much of a difference in KIPP high compared to other public schools (like what the biggg difference I saw in the middle school). The car ride back was classic. Us cool teachers all gossiped about kids and discussed/complained/shared advice about our teaching adventures. Soooo, now I'm tired, and still not really sure about my lesson tomorrow. We'll see...
Today, I (Clare) spent the day at Northwest Halifax High School, which is the local public school. After getting a little bit lost on the drive to the school, I arrived with Christina, Elma, Sita, Kim, Lissett & Katie. Most of our time was spent with Mike Beebe, the Algebra II teacher at Northwest Halifax. He put us to work, cleaning desks, chalkboards and whiteboards. We put our artistic skills to the test, as we designed a new "Student Wall of Fame." At the end of the day, everyone was exhausted. Time for sleep, because we're all waking up bright & early again tomorrow :-)
- Brian & Clare(bear)
Today I taught class for the first time (a day of first, with this being my first blog). The first class was ok. I guess I was not stern enough, and the kids kept talking and not showing much respect. After getting advice from a couple teachers and the rest of our group, I went in more prepared for round 2. I held my ground and would not let kids chat or sleep but they would nottt shut up. Angry Brian had to come out a couple times because of some of the kids shenanigans. My 3rd class was great though. They all participated and our discussions were so long I only got halfway through. By then, my lesson was much better. I had fun today, but did see how much the kids are not quite the most mature...I guess I expected the KIPP high school to have a similar feel to the middle school, but I didn't see as much of a difference in KIPP high compared to other public schools (like what the biggg difference I saw in the middle school). The car ride back was classic. Us cool teachers all gossiped about kids and discussed/complained/shared advice about our teaching adventures. Soooo, now I'm tired, and still not really sure about my lesson tomorrow. We'll see...
Today, I (Clare) spent the day at Northwest Halifax High School, which is the local public school. After getting a little bit lost on the drive to the school, I arrived with Christina, Elma, Sita, Kim, Lissett & Katie. Most of our time was spent with Mike Beebe, the Algebra II teacher at Northwest Halifax. He put us to work, cleaning desks, chalkboards and whiteboards. We put our artistic skills to the test, as we designed a new "Student Wall of Fame." At the end of the day, everyone was exhausted. Time for sleep, because we're all waking up bright & early again tomorrow :-)
- Brian & Clare(bear)
Monday, January 18, 2010
service on MLK day
Today we did service with another alternative break group in order to honor Martin Luther King Jr., the group that we did service with happens to be the GCP alternative break group that is going to New Orleans. The students were very excited about the services they would be doing for their school and eagerly volunteered to do many of the activities that were not as pleasant (heavy lifting). Their positive attitude and excitement to serve the community really put our group in better spirits throughout the day.
The highlight of the service day for me though was lunch when we were required to be tied together and eat. I have always enjoyed eating very close to my neighbor, and felt that this particular activity allowed me to get to know the students of GCP alternative break program better. I loved that we were required to work together to make food and then eat the food. My peanut butter and jelly tasted delicious when it was completely finished, and eating it was an obstacle that could easily be conquered with team work. I loved the solutions the students came to and it demonstrated to me that they will have a very team oriented trip, and a great time in New Orleans.
The rest of our day included sleeping or going in the lake for some of our group. Now we are having movie time, and enjoying a soon to be family classic UP. I hope it will allow us to get our spirits up for tomorrow, and the rest of our amazing trip!
And with that I must say good night Gaston,
Katie
The highlight of the service day for me though was lunch when we were required to be tied together and eat. I have always enjoyed eating very close to my neighbor, and felt that this particular activity allowed me to get to know the students of GCP alternative break program better. I loved that we were required to work together to make food and then eat the food. My peanut butter and jelly tasted delicious when it was completely finished, and eating it was an obstacle that could easily be conquered with team work. I loved the solutions the students came to and it demonstrated to me that they will have a very team oriented trip, and a great time in New Orleans.
The rest of our day included sleeping or going in the lake for some of our group. Now we are having movie time, and enjoying a soon to be family classic UP. I hope it will allow us to get our spirits up for tomorrow, and the rest of our amazing trip!
And with that I must say good night Gaston,
Katie
XTREME JENGA!
So I was signed up to write this blog yesterday, but I got permission from Queen Clare to put it off until today.
Yesterday (Sunday) I slept until 1:19 pm in order to catch up on the REM sleep that I am lacking. I woke up to a marvolous barbecue and we all just relaxed and watched football, some of us more seriously than others. Matt is still celebrating the joyous hours he spent watching the cowboys play...
Some of the girls made a trip to the Riverside Mill and looked at some crafts and bought some souvenirs. Clare splurged on a beautiful porcelain distraught baby...definitely a lucky find.
Afterward, we had another round of barbecue and then played Cranium, which the most intelligent of us won, (in case you can't figure out who that is it's me, Christine, Katie, and Lien).
Cranium transformed into Jenga, which transformed into XTREME Jenga, which was a bonding experience like no other. We found out that Lien has a lot of favorite books and is always very eager to talk about them, Arturo is very interested in yoga and, well, he's just interested in general.
We eventually all crawled into bed and are looking forward to the Landers return today :-)
Happy 19th birthday Mrs. Lander! ;-)
-Kim, ps- I wrote the one this past Wednesday, the 13th, as well but I forgot to sign it!
Yesterday (Sunday) I slept until 1:19 pm in order to catch up on the REM sleep that I am lacking. I woke up to a marvolous barbecue and we all just relaxed and watched football, some of us more seriously than others. Matt is still celebrating the joyous hours he spent watching the cowboys play...
Some of the girls made a trip to the Riverside Mill and looked at some crafts and bought some souvenirs. Clare splurged on a beautiful porcelain distraught baby...definitely a lucky find.
Afterward, we had another round of barbecue and then played Cranium, which the most intelligent of us won, (in case you can't figure out who that is it's me, Christine, Katie, and Lien).
Cranium transformed into Jenga, which transformed into XTREME Jenga, which was a bonding experience like no other. We found out that Lien has a lot of favorite books and is always very eager to talk about them, Arturo is very interested in yoga and, well, he's just interested in general.
We eventually all crawled into bed and are looking forward to the Landers return today :-)
Happy 19th birthday Mrs. Lander! ;-)
-Kim, ps- I wrote the one this past Wednesday, the 13th, as well but I forgot to sign it!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
a few pictures!
clare and christina showing each other some love!
making smores!
a rather run-down house that we helped to "gut" -- soo many cockroaches! once it is nice again, a family will move in and have a new beginning.
aren't we cute???!!!
katie working on some grading in the middle school.
All of us on the bus!
Matt and Arturo working hard at KIPP
Many thanks to Rachel and Jim Lander for letting us stay in their beautiful home!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
How I Became One of the Guys...
Today here in Gaston, NC (and subsequently Weldon, N.C.) we had a day filled with service and I don't think I've ever felt more accomplished on a Saturday in my life! The day began early, as usual, but we missed the sunrise :(. It was okay though because I for one woke up to the smell of eggs, which Arturo kindly cooked for everyone.
We started at Angel's Closet, a non-profit organization led by a man in the community who decided to clothe and feed anyone in the area who needed it. In fact, our leader Phil told us about a recent fire in a local family's home; Angel's Closet donated clothing to the family who lost everything. Our job was to clean out the huge warehouse where they're moving their operation, an old auto body shop being converted. The warehouse was filled with trash and plywood and a ton of hay, as well as some heavier and more bulky objects. We filled three whole dumpsters (the big metal ones).
(This is how I realized that being able to lift heavy objects makes you pretty darn hardcore.)
Everyone worked really hard, probably equivalent to how hard Kipp teachers work, but in a physical way. Phil rewarded us with pizza!
Then it was time for Habitat. We met Greg to go over to a gorgeous house (on the outside). Inside, though, I thought I was going to cry, and then throw up, and then cry some more. It was filthy! Our job was to rip up the carpet and take out the cabinets, all of which we completed with masks on because of the dust in the air. The people who had received the house originally from Habitat had completely destroyed it and then disappeared. What they left behind were cockroaches, and urine, and a toilet I was forced to look at (by Brian) that you don't even want to know about. The house had to be fumigated, we found the leftovers. We worked really hard though. The reason I was going to cry was that there were pictures of the kids who lived there behind the gun cabinet and in the trash piles. It made me feel awful that those kids lived in that house, and that kids everywhere live that way.
Overall it was an amazing experience to work like that, physical labor does the body good, and for charity it helps the spirit. I'm sure we'll all be sore tomorrow, but I doubt anyone feels unaccomplished.
(I have the really puffy finger to prove it, and a really big smile.)
Dinner crew is making tacos now, and I am looking forward to community tonight :).
Holly
We started at Angel's Closet, a non-profit organization led by a man in the community who decided to clothe and feed anyone in the area who needed it. In fact, our leader Phil told us about a recent fire in a local family's home; Angel's Closet donated clothing to the family who lost everything. Our job was to clean out the huge warehouse where they're moving their operation, an old auto body shop being converted. The warehouse was filled with trash and plywood and a ton of hay, as well as some heavier and more bulky objects. We filled three whole dumpsters (the big metal ones).
(This is how I realized that being able to lift heavy objects makes you pretty darn hardcore.)
Everyone worked really hard, probably equivalent to how hard Kipp teachers work, but in a physical way. Phil rewarded us with pizza!
Then it was time for Habitat. We met Greg to go over to a gorgeous house (on the outside). Inside, though, I thought I was going to cry, and then throw up, and then cry some more. It was filthy! Our job was to rip up the carpet and take out the cabinets, all of which we completed with masks on because of the dust in the air. The people who had received the house originally from Habitat had completely destroyed it and then disappeared. What they left behind were cockroaches, and urine, and a toilet I was forced to look at (by Brian) that you don't even want to know about. The house had to be fumigated, we found the leftovers. We worked really hard though. The reason I was going to cry was that there were pictures of the kids who lived there behind the gun cabinet and in the trash piles. It made me feel awful that those kids lived in that house, and that kids everywhere live that way.
Overall it was an amazing experience to work like that, physical labor does the body good, and for charity it helps the spirit. I'm sure we'll all be sore tomorrow, but I doubt anyone feels unaccomplished.
(I have the really puffy finger to prove it, and a really big smile.)
Dinner crew is making tacos now, and I am looking forward to community tonight :).
Holly
Friday, January 15, 2010
Friday!
Two days in and everyone is already exhausted! It's a wonder KIPP teachers have this schedule day after day, year after year...
Since today was a Friday, school let out at two instead of five. The high school students were finishing up their mid term exams (history and Spanish) and most middle school students had regular classes. I personally spent my day working on the high school yearbook. Other students observed classes, graded exams or benchmarks, or did tracking for teachers.
Because the weather was so nice (and we were wearing our matching AWB shirts!) we all decided a midday photo shoot was in order. Pictures to come perhaps?
After lunch most of the group headed to the gym to watch the Pride High's assembly. It was so exciting to see how enthusiastic the students were toward each other. The school band did a tribute to Micheal Jackson in addition to a variety of jazz pieces. Then the gospel choir preformed. The assembly ended with open mic performances by a few students. Okay, okay, it doesn't sound that exciting. But it really was! All the students seemed to know each other and really support each other. Compared to the assemblies in my high school, the KIPP assembly had a lot more energy.
Our reflection again highlighted the complex issues surrounding education. What truly motivates students? How do you create a sustainable model for rural teachers? Is "teaching to the test" bad? The questions seem endless.
For dinner we went to Cici's ($2.99 all you can eat?!) with students and teachers. Mingling amongst them was both informative and enjoyable! The relationships they have created with students are so inspiring.
Up early again tomorrow for our service day. Hopefully the weather is just as nice as today!
-Alicia
Since today was a Friday, school let out at two instead of five. The high school students were finishing up their mid term exams (history and Spanish) and most middle school students had regular classes. I personally spent my day working on the high school yearbook. Other students observed classes, graded exams or benchmarks, or did tracking for teachers.
Because the weather was so nice (and we were wearing our matching AWB shirts!) we all decided a midday photo shoot was in order. Pictures to come perhaps?
After lunch most of the group headed to the gym to watch the Pride High's assembly. It was so exciting to see how enthusiastic the students were toward each other. The school band did a tribute to Micheal Jackson in addition to a variety of jazz pieces. Then the gospel choir preformed. The assembly ended with open mic performances by a few students. Okay, okay, it doesn't sound that exciting. But it really was! All the students seemed to know each other and really support each other. Compared to the assemblies in my high school, the KIPP assembly had a lot more energy.
Our reflection again highlighted the complex issues surrounding education. What truly motivates students? How do you create a sustainable model for rural teachers? Is "teaching to the test" bad? The questions seem endless.
For dinner we went to Cici's ($2.99 all you can eat?!) with students and teachers. Mingling amongst them was both informative and enjoyable! The relationships they have created with students are so inspiring.
Up early again tomorrow for our service day. Hopefully the weather is just as nice as today!
-Alicia
Panther Pride!!
So another day in Gaston, NC with KIPP :)
Waking up this morning was a little rough as we all stumbled out of bed and made our way to KIPP. The students were still testing so we asked around for things to do. I began the morning with "stuffing mailboxes" as the teacher called it.
After a while I helped Elma type up the 7th grade students' pen pal letters. They were writing to kids from Africa and I was pretty surprised that this was a 2nd correspondence for many of them. I remember doing this while I was in school and I don't think anyone got a response...perhaps email expediates the process.
Today the high school had an assembly entitled Parent Pride. I think the original assembly was canceled because of snow and was rescheduled for today. Some of the other participants and I watched the band practice before the actual performance and saw that the students work very well together. The performance was a tribute to Michael Jackson. They played songs like Billy Jean and they were amazing. These kids put so much effort in scholastic work but still have time to excel in extracurriculars! Next the purple clad choir gave us a sampling of their talents and were equally as good. One of the other acts that stood out to me was a girl who "owned" the stage. She strut her stuff and had so much confidence as she sang. She was spurred on by ALL of the students. They were going crazy. They were "sending love" in a whole new way! Just watching how much the other students cheered for the girl was kind of surprising to me. When I compare it to other events and such I have been to in high school, although people were enthusiastic, these KIPP kids would have blown my high school out of the water. It was just very refreshing to see students care for each other that much :)
After the assembly, we had our "community" time. We had a very in-depth discussion on many issues surrounding education. We talked about issues like"teaching for the test" and socio-economic discrepencies. I felt many good points were brought up. Personally, I am not very educated about the issues faced in education. This discussion, along with our other Communities have opened my eyes to these issues. As a "student" my whole life, seeing things from the other side was very surprising. So much time and effort goes into making every teacher and school effective.
After that very intense conversation it was time for some relaxing. We all headed over to Cici's with many teachers and students. Each time I talk to a teacher it becomes more evident that it takes a special kind of teacher to teach at KIPP Gaston. These teachers are dedicated solely to their students and hold themselves accountable for their success. I only wish I had that much passion about anything!
Talking to students in a non-school setting seemed to relax the students. They weren't bound to talking about/doing school work. We were able to talk to them about music, movies, and anything that came to mind. It was a good time with good friends.
Good night friends :)
-Sita
Waking up this morning was a little rough as we all stumbled out of bed and made our way to KIPP. The students were still testing so we asked around for things to do. I began the morning with "stuffing mailboxes" as the teacher called it.
After a while I helped Elma type up the 7th grade students' pen pal letters. They were writing to kids from Africa and I was pretty surprised that this was a 2nd correspondence for many of them. I remember doing this while I was in school and I don't think anyone got a response...perhaps email expediates the process.
Today the high school had an assembly entitled Parent Pride. I think the original assembly was canceled because of snow and was rescheduled for today. Some of the other participants and I watched the band practice before the actual performance and saw that the students work very well together. The performance was a tribute to Michael Jackson. They played songs like Billy Jean and they were amazing. These kids put so much effort in scholastic work but still have time to excel in extracurriculars! Next the purple clad choir gave us a sampling of their talents and were equally as good. One of the other acts that stood out to me was a girl who "owned" the stage. She strut her stuff and had so much confidence as she sang. She was spurred on by ALL of the students. They were going crazy. They were "sending love" in a whole new way! Just watching how much the other students cheered for the girl was kind of surprising to me. When I compare it to other events and such I have been to in high school, although people were enthusiastic, these KIPP kids would have blown my high school out of the water. It was just very refreshing to see students care for each other that much :)
After the assembly, we had our "community" time. We had a very in-depth discussion on many issues surrounding education. We talked about issues like"teaching for the test" and socio-economic discrepencies. I felt many good points were brought up. Personally, I am not very educated about the issues faced in education. This discussion, along with our other Communities have opened my eyes to these issues. As a "student" my whole life, seeing things from the other side was very surprising. So much time and effort goes into making every teacher and school effective.
After that very intense conversation it was time for some relaxing. We all headed over to Cici's with many teachers and students. Each time I talk to a teacher it becomes more evident that it takes a special kind of teacher to teach at KIPP Gaston. These teachers are dedicated solely to their students and hold themselves accountable for their success. I only wish I had that much passion about anything!
Talking to students in a non-school setting seemed to relax the students. They weren't bound to talking about/doing school work. We were able to talk to them about music, movies, and anything that came to mind. It was a good time with good friends.
Good night friends :)
-Sita
Thursday, January 14, 2010
"Don't say things you wouldn't say under your mother." - Clare
update!: L-O-V-ing Gaston :)
Today was another beautiful, blue sky day in Gaston. We woke up bright and early at 6:00 am to eat breakfast and make our brown bag lunches, courtesy of the morning crew. Everyone dressed up really nicely for our first working day impressions and we made Maryland look classy. Around 7:00 am we headed out pumped up and ready to go.
On our way up the gravel road, we caught a strong whiff of the paper mill in the town and it was not pleasant. (The smell is from sulfur, hydrogen sulfide, and chlorine. - wikipedia) random fact: did you know that paper production is the 3rd leading contributor to air pollution?
Back on track... getting into school was great. We all found tons of grading, tracking, and observing to do. Some of us graded scantron sheets and others did more complex grading like poetry assignments. It was really exciting to grade a test of a student that did well. For me, I felt like I was holding a lottery ticket and as the numbers were being counted off, I was hoping for a big win. Tracking is one of the most useful things we did today because it really helped teachers to see what questions/subjects were giving the most trouble to students. The teachers were supremely thankful and I hope that we made their INSANE workload lighter (some teachers arrive at 5 am and leave around 11 pm so obviously by now you have realized that teachers do NOT get paid enough).
A lot of us got to sit in classes and I observed an AP environmental science class that consisted mostly of freshmen. I thought that was pretty crazy because freshmen in AP classes is rare back home. What I noticed the most was the spirit of the students and the teachers. However, despite the positive atmosphere of the school, there is still a lot of progress to be made. The AP enviro kids didn't seem to understand important concepts and it made me want to do a review session with the class because they have a test next week.
Moving on in the day... we got to meet with a math teacher from the public school and the principal of the KIPP high school. Both were really great to talk to and had a lot of wisdom to share about grasping the reality of things. Some of the topics we discussed were possible solutions to the achievement gap and the differences between charter and public schools. We spoke to them for over 2 hours and would have stayed longer if all of our stomachs weren't grumbling!
Heading home, Sophie, Clare, Christina and I made a pasta dinner (Sophie's recipe) and it was delicious. At dinner we had a very enthralling conversation about chocolate vs. vanilla (if you were wondering, chocolate won by a LANDSLIDE!). And this led into all other conversations that went deep into the night. For our intense reflection, we picked questions out of an envelope and then we talked about what we thought were the problems and positives of what we had seen that day. We all noted that the students had a level pride in their studies and that the teachers collaborated more than at most schools. We are learning so much!
Being in the school was weird on orientation day for me, but all day today I felt the desire to be a teacher grow. I think everyone is having a great experience and we are all bonding so well.
Two last things I have to note before more grading and bed...
1. Northampton County... does not... have a recycling program... I died inside.
2. Tomorrow is college day so everyone is wearing their AB shirts! :)
- Lien
Today was another beautiful, blue sky day in Gaston. We woke up bright and early at 6:00 am to eat breakfast and make our brown bag lunches, courtesy of the morning crew. Everyone dressed up really nicely for our first working day impressions and we made Maryland look classy. Around 7:00 am we headed out pumped up and ready to go.
On our way up the gravel road, we caught a strong whiff of the paper mill in the town and it was not pleasant. (The smell is from sulfur, hydrogen sulfide, and chlorine. - wikipedia) random fact: did you know that paper production is the 3rd leading contributor to air pollution?
Back on track... getting into school was great. We all found tons of grading, tracking, and observing to do. Some of us graded scantron sheets and others did more complex grading like poetry assignments. It was really exciting to grade a test of a student that did well. For me, I felt like I was holding a lottery ticket and as the numbers were being counted off, I was hoping for a big win. Tracking is one of the most useful things we did today because it really helped teachers to see what questions/subjects were giving the most trouble to students. The teachers were supremely thankful and I hope that we made their INSANE workload lighter (some teachers arrive at 5 am and leave around 11 pm so obviously by now you have realized that teachers do NOT get paid enough).
A lot of us got to sit in classes and I observed an AP environmental science class that consisted mostly of freshmen. I thought that was pretty crazy because freshmen in AP classes is rare back home. What I noticed the most was the spirit of the students and the teachers. However, despite the positive atmosphere of the school, there is still a lot of progress to be made. The AP enviro kids didn't seem to understand important concepts and it made me want to do a review session with the class because they have a test next week.
Moving on in the day... we got to meet with a math teacher from the public school and the principal of the KIPP high school. Both were really great to talk to and had a lot of wisdom to share about grasping the reality of things. Some of the topics we discussed were possible solutions to the achievement gap and the differences between charter and public schools. We spoke to them for over 2 hours and would have stayed longer if all of our stomachs weren't grumbling!
Heading home, Sophie, Clare, Christina and I made a pasta dinner (Sophie's recipe) and it was delicious. At dinner we had a very enthralling conversation about chocolate vs. vanilla (if you were wondering, chocolate won by a LANDSLIDE!). And this led into all other conversations that went deep into the night. For our intense reflection, we picked questions out of an envelope and then we talked about what we thought were the problems and positives of what we had seen that day. We all noted that the students had a level pride in their studies and that the teachers collaborated more than at most schools. We are learning so much!
Being in the school was weird on orientation day for me, but all day today I felt the desire to be a teacher grow. I think everyone is having a great experience and we are all bonding so well.
Two last things I have to note before more grading and bed...
1. Northampton County... does not... have a recycling program... I died inside.
2. Tomorrow is college day so everyone is wearing their AB shirts! :)
- Lien
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
First day in Log Cabin Paradise...
Though I am pretty tired, I think that I speak for the majority of us AWB Gaston visitors in saying that I am very content right now. We have a lake view and are staying comfortably in a beautiful log cabin down a long gravel road. Not to mention the delicious dinner that we ate and the exciting, competitive games of Taboo and Catch Phrase we played.
However, the highlight of my day was the tour that the 8th graders gave us through GCP. The boy, Gary, was so professional and polite. It was so incredible to see them talking about their values and how they loved the opportunities they were given to take on responsibilities. These kids seem to be mini-adults, and proud of it. They have goals and aspirations, and don't seem to detest school in any way, even though they are there for 9 hours each day!
I'm so excited to observe more about how the teachers connect with the students and see how the students feel about being able to go to this school. I also want to spend some time talking with the public school teachers and students and ask them how they feel about KIPP and if they have animosity towards the program or they are inspired and want to adopt some of it's philosophies.
Ok, well I think it's time for bed after Community time, which I'm extremely pumped about.
Goodnight Gaston! :-)
However, the highlight of my day was the tour that the 8th graders gave us through GCP. The boy, Gary, was so professional and polite. It was so incredible to see them talking about their values and how they loved the opportunities they were given to take on responsibilities. These kids seem to be mini-adults, and proud of it. They have goals and aspirations, and don't seem to detest school in any way, even though they are there for 9 hours each day!
I'm so excited to observe more about how the teachers connect with the students and see how the students feel about being able to go to this school. I also want to spend some time talking with the public school teachers and students and ask them how they feel about KIPP and if they have animosity towards the program or they are inspired and want to adopt some of it's philosophies.
Ok, well I think it's time for bed after Community time, which I'm extremely pumped about.
Goodnight Gaston! :-)
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
It All Comes Down to This!!
Dear Participants,
We have emailed, doodled, youtubed, polled, researched, coordinated, and stressed. All of us. And, we know you did because we MADE YOU. And now, in just 9 hours, we will depart for Gaston, North Carolina to fall in love with KIPP.
We are so excited that all of our (ours, yours, CSL's) hard work is finally coming to fruition and we cannot wait for what's to come. We really hope that each you will walk away with something meaningful after this trip.
See you all bright and early!
Love,
Your Co-Trip Leaders
Monday, January 11, 2010
Just a Taste
Since I'm down here earlier than everyone else, I thought I'd give those of you that might actually read this before you come an idea of whats happening in Gaston.
I made the drive in about three hours, taking the Gaston exit off of 95, which takes you past the school on your way to town. Town is used loosely here of course. I met all of Pat's new roommates, reminded some of the old ones of my name, and we had a nice big family dinner- ham, cornbread, this wonderful pineapple dish, bluebox, and beans.
I set my alarm for 5:45am and left about an hour later, getting to school a little after 7. The drive was freezing and I had a strong internal battle going over whether I wanted to listen to gospel or country that early in the morning, because those were pretty much my only options.
Students start arriving at 7:30, and the 5th and 6th graders sit in the cafeteria doing 'morning work' until just after 8, while the 7th and 8th graders do it in their homerooms. I spent the whole day observing different classes- Band, 6th grade reading, 6th grade history and writing, 6th grade math, 7th grade math, and 5th grade math. I also watched 7th grade Pride Time, where students did some improv, a game called What are You Doing? Teachers did some improv too, but mostly Pride Time was focused on getting students ready and prepped (mentally) to take their benchmarks this week. If students do well they may be able to play in a students v. teachers game of dodgeball, or later go on an iceskating trip if their average paycheck is high enough over the next three weeks. (A lot of weird terms I know, but it'll make sense later.) The school day ended at 4pm, after which students stay to get extra help in the subjects they needed help in, and then they are dismissed to buses at 5pm, which is when I left the school. Right now its about 6:15pm and I'm still the only person in the house, and there are 8 (and a half) people that live here.
Towards the end of last night I had a great conversation with one of the teachers, who has been at GCP for 4 years, about why she teaches here. No matter what other school she goes to on visits, be it KIPP or otherwise, she always leaves there more reaffirmed that GCP is the best school out there. She knows for some people its hard to reconcile the lifestyle for the job, but she said shes one of her only friends that LOVES her job. And if other friends do like their job, they still would never bring work home past 5pm, which every single teacher here does. People don't move to Gaston for the waterfront property, for the serene countryside, for the amazing sunrises you see as you drive to work, and most definitely not for the night life. People move here because of GCP. People sign up for an hour and a half commute to work at this school. (Yes, there's a 5th grade teacher that wakes up at 4:30 every morning to get here.) That's how amazing this place is.
Can't wait for everyone to join me!
I made the drive in about three hours, taking the Gaston exit off of 95, which takes you past the school on your way to town. Town is used loosely here of course. I met all of Pat's new roommates, reminded some of the old ones of my name, and we had a nice big family dinner- ham, cornbread, this wonderful pineapple dish, bluebox, and beans.
I set my alarm for 5:45am and left about an hour later, getting to school a little after 7. The drive was freezing and I had a strong internal battle going over whether I wanted to listen to gospel or country that early in the morning, because those were pretty much my only options.
Students start arriving at 7:30, and the 5th and 6th graders sit in the cafeteria doing 'morning work' until just after 8, while the 7th and 8th graders do it in their homerooms. I spent the whole day observing different classes- Band, 6th grade reading, 6th grade history and writing, 6th grade math, 7th grade math, and 5th grade math. I also watched 7th grade Pride Time, where students did some improv, a game called What are You Doing? Teachers did some improv too, but mostly Pride Time was focused on getting students ready and prepped (mentally) to take their benchmarks this week. If students do well they may be able to play in a students v. teachers game of dodgeball, or later go on an iceskating trip if their average paycheck is high enough over the next three weeks. (A lot of weird terms I know, but it'll make sense later.) The school day ended at 4pm, after which students stay to get extra help in the subjects they needed help in, and then they are dismissed to buses at 5pm, which is when I left the school. Right now its about 6:15pm and I'm still the only person in the house, and there are 8 (and a half) people that live here.
Towards the end of last night I had a great conversation with one of the teachers, who has been at GCP for 4 years, about why she teaches here. No matter what other school she goes to on visits, be it KIPP or otherwise, she always leaves there more reaffirmed that GCP is the best school out there. She knows for some people its hard to reconcile the lifestyle for the job, but she said shes one of her only friends that LOVES her job. And if other friends do like their job, they still would never bring work home past 5pm, which every single teacher here does. People don't move to Gaston for the waterfront property, for the serene countryside, for the amazing sunrises you see as you drive to work, and most definitely not for the night life. People move here because of GCP. People sign up for an hour and a half commute to work at this school. (Yes, there's a 5th grade teacher that wakes up at 4:30 every morning to get here.) That's how amazing this place is.
Can't wait for everyone to join me!
Friday, January 8, 2010
T-Minus 5 Days
Hey all! Since I'm the first person to leave a post I'll try to make it sort of introductory...
This is the blog that will chronicle the story of the (15 ish?) students on the University of Maryland Alternative Winter Break 2010 trip to Gaston, North Carolina to examine rural education and charter schools. For ten days in January we will be working at the KIPP school in Gaston, tutoring students, helping to set up bulletin boards, grading papers, or whatever else teachers need done.
My name is Sophie, I am a senior at UMD, majoring in Geography with a minor in math. This will be my third time going to KIPP:GCP, once leading the trip last year and again in the summer with the two amazing trip leaders for this year, Clare and Elma. I will actually be going down a few days before the rest of the group to interview for a teaching position at the school for next year. I'm excited and nervous, but that is to be expected I guess. It will be great to see the teachers I met last year, and for some of them in particular to see how their second year of teaching is going.
KIPP: GCP is a great school and I can't wait for everyone else going on the trip to fall in love with it like I did!
Keep reading the blog over the next two weeks to see how the trip is going and what everyone is learning!
Sophie
This is the blog that will chronicle the story of the (15 ish?) students on the University of Maryland Alternative Winter Break 2010 trip to Gaston, North Carolina to examine rural education and charter schools. For ten days in January we will be working at the KIPP school in Gaston, tutoring students, helping to set up bulletin boards, grading papers, or whatever else teachers need done.
My name is Sophie, I am a senior at UMD, majoring in Geography with a minor in math. This will be my third time going to KIPP:GCP, once leading the trip last year and again in the summer with the two amazing trip leaders for this year, Clare and Elma. I will actually be going down a few days before the rest of the group to interview for a teaching position at the school for next year. I'm excited and nervous, but that is to be expected I guess. It will be great to see the teachers I met last year, and for some of them in particular to see how their second year of teaching is going.
KIPP: GCP is a great school and I can't wait for everyone else going on the trip to fall in love with it like I did!
Keep reading the blog over the next two weeks to see how the trip is going and what everyone is learning!
Sophie
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