More feedback
I talked to some TFA people from the nationals office today. They came in at 8:15 am when we had one student and we were just setting up. So they sat and asked me questions about my institute...
View ArticleClik here to view.
TeacherPop
Hey all! TeacherPop.org just interviewed me and a member of my collab for their “Burning Questions” section on the site. It should go up tomorrow at sometime. TeacherPop is really great and it’s also...
View ArticleDCA, DCgay.
We do these diversity dialogue sessions periodically during institute to help us reflect on our identities. They are technically known as “DCA: Diversity, Community, Action” (I think…?) and we usually...
View ArticleArticle 6
I’m currently on a train traveling from DC to RVA but a week ago I was my last day of teaching with my kids. A week ago I was still Ms. Olivia, and a week ago I did not have Strep C. Now institute is...
View ArticleSnuggled in bed
I’m snuggled in bed in Humboldt Park on a Thursday at 3 which can only mean one thing. That’s right, I haven’t been hired yet. I’m not very concerned, and my self-esteem has yet to take a huge hit...
View ArticleFirst, second day
So I got a job, finally. And it’s a job that isn’t affected by the teacher’s strike which will start on Monday. I’m teaching 10 (though I have yet to have all 10 show up for school) 3-5 year olds in a...
View ArticleMotivation
I’m having trouble motivating my kids. I’m getting so exhausted repeating myself all the time. Repeating instructions, repeating rules, repeating expectations and constantly expecting a different...
View ArticleLook me in the eye
I’ve been ignoring this blog for awhile, for no other reason than I’ve been up to my eyeballs in red tape and assessments and long-term plans, short term plans, visions, and observations. Is that a...
View ArticleThank you
I’m from a small county in Virginia and that’s where I went for the holidays this year. Despite it’s size, it’s one of the wealthiest counties for it’s size in the nation and the public schools are...
View ArticleAttached
Where have I been? Nowhere new. I have so many mini stories, heartbreaking stories, funny stories about the things kids say and the way they think and I honestly wish I had been keeping up with this...
View ArticleTravel
I have so much to say and so little time. I just got back from Michigan, which was a truly tranformational experience and I’m about to head to Israel which I’m sure will be nothing less than amazing....
View ArticleFunding
Last year my school lost their funding from CPS, which means we’re scrambling to operate with about $145K less in our budgets this year than last year. It means, if it wasn’t for TFA, I wouldn’t be...
View ArticleClick
Click this link Click play “…so tell me place doesn’t matter, that the neighborhoods that are predominantly healthy aren’t the same ones that are predominantly wealthy. Because when you’re not choosing...
View ArticleTGIF
A child threw a block at my head and then kissed me on the mouth. I’m pretty sure this is how abusive relationships (and the flu) start. So I’ve started an abusive relationship with a 4 year old. My...
View ArticleDear you
Note: I wrote all of this while spending Thanksgiving with my family and saved it as a draft, to finish at a later date. Clearly I forgot about it, till now. At the time I found my student’s concern...
View ArticleLinked up
Read me. Eat me. Swallow me. Digest me. I don’t completely agree with the rationalizations for all of these, but I won’t say I haven’t rolled my eyes at every single one of these statements when...
View ArticleHurt
I was reading all these quotes by Haruki Murakami. Don’t ask me why. I was looking for something encouraging to say to a friend who was having a bad day. Haruki Murakami isn’t really the person you...
View ArticleI’m in Israel/About the Boys
Everyone keeps saying “This is history. Israel had existed for 66 years and every time something new happens, it is history.” I suppose they’re right. But coming from a slightly older country (roughly...
View Article3rd 1st
(Note: Sorry, thought I hit publish on this last night. Turns out I hit “Save as Draft”) Today was the third “first day” of school I’ve had in the last year. I look at this as a sign of being super...
View ArticleAnd now I’m going to make a plug for Class Dojo
My second day was a complete turnaround from my first day. But it didn’t start that way. I woke up at 5:00 am (breakfast is at 5:30) and said to myself “This is not ok.” It got worse when I got to...
View Article
