Episode 2: Summer School... dun dun dun

This week I started getting the first true test of what being a teacher is truly like- when the kids first traipse through the door and demand the highest level of your patience, knowledge, and, of course, coolness (we are talking middle-schoolers, you know).  I was assigned to teach language arts to 6th graders this week, which really meant kids going into 7th and 8th grade, but performing between a 3rd and 8th grade level in reading.  

I really love these kids already- there is just something incredibly real about their social awkwardness, their raw honestly, and their need for personal affirmation.

Highlight: A half-hour discussion we had with the class this morning about college.  One big thing we are trying to do at summer school is invest the students in their own education, amongst a population that frequently doesn't graduate from high school, much less go on to college.  These 12 and 13-year-olds' penetrating questions about scholarships and loans (or if you can go to college to play on the soccer team even if your grades are bad) makes me excited for these kids.

Lowlight: Calling Roberto's mom (who only speaks Spanish) to report on his repeated misbehavior in class today.  Such a huge amount of potential in this kid if he will allow himself to think so!

Prayer Request: For my collaborative group- as Corps Members we teach the summer school kids in groups of four, and my group has had some trouble getting on the same page for things that need to be consistent for the sake of the kids.  Pray for me to have grace, but know when to speak truth into the situation.

Thanks for the communication from those who have written me!  I hope to hear from others of you soon!

Episode 1: Induction

Hello, hello!  I didn't feel like doing homework... so why not start a blog, which I will have a total of 0:00 to update over the next 2 years?  So here it is!  I'm five weeks out from graduation from Whitworth, and in the mean time, have traveled through Argentina and Uruguay with the Whitworth Choir, gone home for 2 days to unpack/repack, and driven down to Phoenix, Arizona, to join the Teach for America movement in providing high quality education to kids in under-performing, high-needs schools.  A whirlwind summer, and I'm excited to see what God has planned next.

The first week was Induction- yes, like joining a cult.  Except without the Kool-Aid...  It was our introduction into the Teach for America program- why we're here, what our goals are for the next two years, etc.  As well as plenty of social activities, both planned (Diamondbacks baseball game!) and unplanned (....)- more or less an adult version of Traditiation, or College Orientation.

Then last weekend we moved to the ASU dorms to relive some of college life, while we go through Institute.  Basically, Institute is teacher boot camp.  Schedule:

5am (became 5:30 as the week went on): Alarm, don teacher attire, breakfast

6:15am: board bus for elementary school.

7am: begin training classes on lesson planning, classroom management, investment strategies, and my personal favorite: an entire 90-minute class on being assertive.

4:30pm: head back to ASU.  

Evening: sometimes more classes, sometimes just tons of homework writing lesson plans, etc.

On Monday, we add summer school to that schedule- I'll be teach 6th grade Math and Reading with a team of 3 other TFAers.  I'm excited to get to know the kids and put some perspective on why I'm here.  

Socially, it has been pretty tough situation.  Being in a full-blown secular environment, I have realized just how sheltered I've been up until now.  God is giving me a lot to think about, and I think these years are going to be full of a lot of growth and maturity for me!  I am grateful to have already found an awesome bilingual church in downtown Phoenix!  So glad to have the opportunity to connect there!

I am going to head to bed, but I would love to hear from anyone and everyone of you!  I have a mailing address just for during Institute if you want to send me some love ;)

Sarah Bratton

711 E. Lemon St.

#3691 HAV

Tempe, AZ 85281

OR sarah.lynn.bratton@gmail.com

With hope and love,

Sarah