TFA jargon alert: Institute is the 5 week training period where we are sent away from our region to both learn how to teach and do a modified student teaching experience for a summer school. The first week is just a series of session geared towards actually teaching (planning, management, execution). For the next 4 weeks, we teach in the morning (split between our collab -- or group of teachers responsible for one class) and take classes in the afternoons. Personally, I taught an entering third grade class with 3 other teachers (the 4 of us = a collab). The children are adorable and precocious. The first 2 weeks, I taught reading, and the second 2 weeks, I taught math.
Teaching a class like this has some unique challenges, as the kids have to adjust to 4 different teachers every day. Additionally, we have a CMA (TFA jargon alert: CMA = Corp Member Advisor, a wonderful person who edits our lesson plans, observes us and critiques our teaching) that helps us improve as teachers. I've learned so much so far, but still have so far to go.
Lessons from teaching --
Lesson #1: 8 year olds need to go to the bathroom around every 3 hours, or when bored. Disrupting that schedule has disastrous consequences.
Lesson #2: 8 year olds are already mean to each other.
Lesson #3: Passing out papers is a BIG DEAL.
Lesson #4: 8 year olds love telling you about their lives, especially if a story could have the same word as something that you said. And yes, that word could be "go."
Lesson #5: I had a really awesome childhood. Like really awesome.
Lesson #6: There is no substitution for exposure to books. Kids need to be surrounded by words and ideas all the time.
Lesson #7: If you respect kids, they'll respect you.
Lesson #8: Never hint at a personal story unless you are willing to tell the whole thing.
Living in the Mississippi Delta Lessons:
Lesson #1: Everyone knows everyone in small towns.
Lesson #2: Don't itch bug bites.
Lesson #3: No matter how anti-pesticides you are, that can all change.
Lesson #4: Blues Bars are so much fun.
Lesson #5: Always find live music.
Lesson #6: Bowling is cool and cheap.
Lesson #7: Walmart has everything you could ever need.
Lesson #8: Do what makes you happy.
Experiences and Ideas that challenged my mindset:
1. Corporal Punishment. Where is the line between spanking and child abuse? How do we discuss this productively?
2. High expectations. How do you maintain the same high expectations for all children when you see the differences in starting points?
3. Kindness. How do you have a completely separate tone in your classroom than the rest of the school?
4. Respect. How do you earn respect from students?
5. Machiavelli: Is it better to be feared or love? Michael Scott: Um easy, both. I want people to fear how much they love me.
6. Working in teams. What's more important: intentions or execution?
Really Awesome Experiences:
1. Going to Morgan Freeman's Blues Bar. It's pretty much everything you would imagine in a small town Mississippi blues bar.
2. Having an entire town throw a crawfish boil for you.
3. Vacation in Nashville for July 4th
4. Seeing your mannerism and values reflected in 8 year olds.
5. Having students write you notes detailing what they like about your teaching.
6. Being a real teacher.
