Teaching at Institute
Institute is the intimidating name that TFA gives to the summer training program for first year Corps Members like myself. From June 13th to July 10th, I taught 7th grade math at FM Black.
I knew I had wanted to introduce myself a little on the first day, but the night before, I decided I'd share how I felt about math. I told students that I liked math for two reasons:
I made a big deal about the second one and it ended up becoming the mantra for our class this summer. I'm thinking of having shirts made.
- Math is everywhere. Math is shapes, math is patterns, math is money, math is baseball - math is everywhere. The better you can understand it and speak it, the more prepared you will be for everything surrounding you.
- If there's a problem, then there's an answer... and we will find it. Everyone can see when there's a problem in front of them. Plenty of people can even recognize that there's probably an answer somewhere. But it takes a lot to get the tools you need, to power through the frustrations, and to find that answer.
Meester Cannon
About a week and a half into teaching, one of my students called me over during lunch duty, "Meester Cannon, Meester Cannon."
I left my post as a stone-faced, arms-folded cafeteria-pacer and wandered over to her table. "What's going on?"
She alternated between looking up at me and down at the floor. "I just wanted to tell you that I have four role models in my life and you're one of them."
I'm sure the shock on my face was apparent. For a second I thought this was an oh-so-effective attempt at brown-nosing, but for some reason I could tell it was genuine - she really appreciated having me as a teacher. I didn't really know how to respond. "Well, thank you. I've loved having you in class so far."
She kept going with the kind of honesty I didn't expect from a middle schooler, "I like how you always tell us to never give up even if we get frustrated." I was even more taken aback. I hadn't realized the power in the things that stumble out of my mouth during class.
I complimented her for her participation in class and thanked her again for sharing this with me. Then I let my curiosity get the better of me, "So, who are your other three role models?"
Her eyes lit up as she listed them off, "Well, the Jonas Brothers are one, of course. And Miley Cyrus..." I didn't even catch the last one as I chuckled inside. I don't really know what I was expecting. Anyway, in a middle schooler's mind, that's a list I'm glad to be on.
Over as Quickly as it Began
Institute was a blur. It came out of nowhere, wasn't like anything I've been through before, and then was gone in a flash. All of the other Corps Members I met were passionate and talented, and it amazes me how quickly strangers can become life-long friends in such a pressure cooker.
Looking back, I had a really great experience during my first summer of teaching - which isn't to say that there weren't moments each day when I wondered what the H I was doing. My students learned a lot and so did I. I picked up a few things that worked and plenty that didn't. I can't wait to get into my 7th grade math classroom at Pilgrim Academy where I've been hired for this fall. For now, I'm enjoying all the planning that comes with a sense of possibility for what this year could bring.
