Architecture Talk

An edited excerpt from my teaching journal today. This is one reason I work so hard:
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There are now four students at MCHS that I have talked with about architecture. One  I met after he was working with a fellow MTR resident after school a couple of days ago. She had shared with me that he was interested in architecture, so I introduced myself and told him to come by our classroom so we could talk about architecture sometime. I am very tickled that he came by this morning. We talked about Palladio, and Italian architect, and I'm going to take a couple of books to share with him next week. 
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Then during House I asked one of our seniors about the art supplies that she had with her and found out that she is taking a design class at CBU this semester. She told me about a marshmallow project she was going to do in her class this afternoon and she told me that she is interested in fashion design and architecture. We talked about colleges that offered both of those programs and she asked me some great questions about the difference in an architect and an urban planner. I asked her to tell me about the marshmallow project after she got back from class today, and I was so excited to hear about how she built a structure with spaghetti and large marshmallows. 
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I am so excited that both of these students have a common interest with me, and that they care about learning more and recognize that I care enough that they report back to me both time I suggested it.

Passport out of Poverty

In class tonight, we watched 2 Million Minutes about how top high school students in the US compare to top students in China and India. The movie definitely sparked a serious discussion. I was most moved by this line:

Education is the passport out of poverty.

More thoughts on that soon...

Annie

I am so thankful for today. I'm thankful to be in Memphis and working in Memphis City Schools. I'm thankful for supportive friends and family. I'm thankful for all the things I have learned this summer that made today a successful first day. I'm thankful for students who volunteer to work problems on the board the first day of school. I'm thankful for a mentor who let me take over (as much as I know how to) on the first day.


And I'm thankful for stories that will always make me laugh:


My 5th period class is full of students who had my mentor teacher last year, so they were very comfortable talking and participating today. One student told me that I looked like Shirley Temple and little orphan Annie. I said it must be the curly red hair, admitting she was right. Little did I know that she would decide that she was going to call me Annie... in front of the principal. I was walking past the student in the hallway so when I got to the principal I jokingly said, "That's Ms. Annie to you." 

1st Day

Tomorrow is the day. My official first day of teaching.

I'm scared and excited all at the same time. I'm comforted by the fact that I'm not alone, not for one moment. Not only do I have a mentor teacher who I will be with all day, but I have two MTR peers I'm riding to school with, and a coach who is taking us out for ice cream after school. And I have a super awesome God who has not only led me here, but will guide me the entire way, tomorrow and everyday.

As I was getting organized tonight, I came across this poem that KIPP students memorized this summer and found it to be extremely relevant for tomorrow.[KIPP left out the middle part about God, but it is pretty important:] I'm printing a copy to put up by my desk.

Our Deepest Fear 

Marianne Williamson

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

KIPP Clinicals

Two weeks ago we finished our summer clinicals at KIPP, and we were oh-so-excited to be given KIPP shirts on our last day. Across the back of each shirt it says, "There are no excuses." 

This week we are at our schools for in-service and setting up our classrooms. I am definitely nervous about school starting on Monday, but confident because of the opportunity I had at KIPP to practice leading a classroom and interact with students. I'm becoming more comfortable with being called Ms. Boyd everyday. 

24

Earlier this month I celebrated my 24th birthday. Although it was the first birthday in my life that I had to go to school, it was one of the best birthdays because I was surrounded by so many dear friends. 

In class we celebrated with a cake and I was serenaded with Stevie Wonder's Happy Birthday. Then most of the class went to Memphis Pizza Cafe for lunch and a smaller group went bowling. To top off an awesome day Sarah, Kristin, and I went to the Redbirds game!

The next day, my dear friend Callie came into town [I'm a bad friend and didn't get a picture of the two of us!] and we went out to my parents house for a birthday cookout with friends from all different parts of my life - Middle School, High School, College, Neighborhood Church, and my mom and sister Martha.

It was a great night of fellowship. I found that many of my friends did not know what it means to Call the Hogs, so after Happy Birthday was sung, we showed everyone that glorious tradition! Woo Pig Sooie!

Who is going to go to college?

This week we are observing and helping with Summer School at KIPP DIAMOND Academy, which is a charter school here in Memphis. They have many routines and procedures that are very effective in discipline and learning. We are very fortunate to see how they set up the school year and culture with three weeks of summer school before the traditional school year. 


On Monday morning the administration was talking about goals and expectations while all the new students were sitting in rows on the floor of the cafeteria [they have to earn desks] and the principal asked, "Who is going to college?" and a boy who I had talked with earlier that morning raised both his hands as high up in the air as he could. I fought back tears as I saw how much he wants a better life. 


This verse has been on my heart this week as well:
When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. Proverbs 11:10
Memphis is already changing because of the educational reforms and the entire city will benefit and rejoice when EVERY student has access to a GREAT education.