TFA Institute: Life in the Mississippi Delta

Now that I have a spare moment to breathe in between teaching classes, attending sessions, going to the lake, and enjoying happy hour at Hey Joes, I'm finally getting to catch everyone up on what life has been like for me lately. I've spent the past 3 weeks in Cleveland, Mississippi at Teach For America Institute, which is our summer training. Institute is training through direct experience with teaching. Every day, I go to Matty Akin Elementary in Greenville, MS and teach a class of entering 1st graders who have absolutely stolen my heart, but also challenged me greatly. I've had lessons that have flopped, homework assigned that I never saw again, I've been spat on, and many other things... Come to Baton Rouge in August and I'll give you all the details over a beer. Most importantly, I've learned A LOT... First, that my kids won't respect me if I don't respect them first. One on one conversations can work wonders. Making a lesson fun and engaging is the most effective behavior management tool. Progress doesn't happen over night, but it DOES happen. All of this became extremely worth it to me when yesterday I saw one student (who was labeled a "non-reader" on our beginning-of-summer reading diagnostic) read the title of a book I laid in front of him. I literally had to choke back tears when I realized our small-group reading had progressed him from a non-reader to a reader over a 2 week period.

Although most of my time involves being in the classroom, writing lesson plans or working on things for my classroom, or attending professional development to make my classroom better, I've gotten to know A LOT of people in TFA from all over the country that now feel like people I've known for years. And the best part is that we have all come together for the same reason. It's incredible to meet these brave people who have left their friends and family and uprooted themselves to come serve children who deserve a quality education. There's Julianne (a fellow South Louisiana teacher) from New Jersey who is here because she knows she can give all of her special education students what they need to succeed, despite where they come from. There's Katie (who will teach right here in the MS Delta) from New York who is here because her heart of gold yearns to help young people around her have a great education. There is Stephanie (fellow SLA) from Italy via California via Nebraska who is here because she selflessly knows that there are problems in the American education system that are more important than continuing her beautiful life abroad. There is Emily (my summer adviser and former Arkansas teacher) from South Carolina who has fallen in love with teaching children in rural Arkansas and will attend the Clinton School of Public Policy to further her education about these children she so fiercely wants to work with. The people here are AMAZING. They have realized that our education system is broken. They know that they can't simply come in and save the day, but they can give back to individual students, then classrooms, then schools, then school systems, and ONE DAY... every child in America.

I'd also like to point out that I'm in one of the most historical and culturally rich places in the United States, and I've really enjoyed getting to see some of it. Some highlights: eating catfish and drinking beer on the quad of Delta State University, talking to the community members who so generously donated their food, drinks, and time to show us some southern hospitality. Spending Friday night at Po' Monkey's Juke Joint in Merigold, a 1-room house in between rows of cotton, singing along with the gospel band as they jammed Led Zeppelin. Swimming and catching rays at Grenada Lake, making me almost forget about the million lesson plans I'll have to work on tomorrow. The Delta is a place where the people's kindness makes you (almost) forget about the killer mosquitoes and hellish weather.

On a VERY happy note, I just signed and sent my lease to my new landlord for my house in Louisiana! I am living in Baton Rouge's oldest and most historic neighborhood, Spanish Town. Spanish Town is a neighborhood downtown that claims the city's largest Mardi Gras parade and an eclectic culture (Houston friends - think The Heights). My house was built in 1910 and is painted bright colors and has amazingggg front and back porches, probably my favorite part of the house. It is also within walking distance to the grocery store, farmers market, public library, state capitol and capitol park. I absolutely cannot wait to move into this wonderful home and be a part of a neighborhood with such a vibrant history.

2 more weeks left of Institute - LETS DO THIS!

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