You know what's crazy?? There's only one week left in February! That's what's crazy. The project has been going well. I've been tutoring many more kids and getting a few regulars now. Oh, and I can now write an essay on Animal Farm (that should be underlined but there is no option for that on my blog. I'm embarrassed.), despite never having read it. I have to admit, it's very frustrating tutoring kids who have never read the book. Now I know how teachers feel! Maybe I should have read more books in high school..... I still have no idea what happened in the end of King Lear, or The Jungle (more underlining).
As for the math tutoring, my geometry and algebra 1 skills are much improved. It helps to take notes in my classes! I'm hoping this encourages me to take the GRE after AmeriCorps. At least I'm in a math thinking mode again. It's all coming back rather easily. Unfortunately, the other day, there were no Algebra 2 tutors available in the learning center and I had to help. Well, it was more like the kids helping me. I couldn't remember how to do logs for the life of me. These freshmen in high school made me feel like an idiot! I then felt bad that I let them down and proceeded to study logs out of the textbook for the next 45 minutes. Hopefully I'll never be stuck trying to help with Algebra 2 again! Other than that, it's going great! My three math classes can be a little overwhelming at times, but they aren't unbearable. I think I like tutoring. Whoa, did I just say that??!!
This weekend I did an ISP (individual service project) at the Aerospace Museum of California with about 25 other AmeriCorps people. We set up the area for a 600 person crab dinner fundraiser. We moved aside engines and airplanes and put up tables, chairs and the whole shabang. Not too bad. I now have 26 hours out of the 80 required... It's a long arduous process. I mean, I really love working Saturdays when I just worked a 54 hour week. It's a blast. That evening I went bowling with my teammates and bowled a 117 and a 94. That was my little boost of confidence for the week. Other than that, it's been very relaxing!
This coming weekend I'm heading to Seattle to visit the fam! Jane and Vic bought a townhouse and are moving in this weekend and my parents and I are coming to help pack and paint! I can't wait to see everyone and take a much-needed break!
Have a great last week of February!
<3 anne
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Today, A Kid Called Me Teacher
A week has gone by, and so far, so good. My team has been split in half, one group at Woodland High School, and one group at Pioneer High School. I am at the better of the two, Pioneer. (No bias whatsoever.)
The first day, last Tuesday, was a little shaky. I felt like the awkward girl in the baggy uniform with no clue as to what I was doing. It's called First-Day-At-A-New-Job syndrome. As the week went on, I became much more comfortable in my surroundings and assimilated suprisingly well. The team that had this project before us made us think it was going to be a nightmare. "The kids are little jerks. There's a lot of trouble at the school. The hours are so terribly long." Well, I think the kids are quite nice, they just need some focus. There's some trouble at school (today several kids were arrested for a riot held two weeks ago), but I never feel unsafe. And yes, the hours are somewhat long, we leave campus at 7:15 am, have a 45 minute commute, work at school from 8 to 5 with minimum breaks, and then take another 45 minute commute home which gives us an eta of 6 pm. It was tough the first couple days, but with 8 hours of sleep a night, it's more than bearable.
During the week I tutor all subjects, but primarily math and essay-writing. I also am an in-class tutor for three classes: two Algebra 1 and a geometry class. I definitely pay attention during note-taking time so I can actually help the kids. The classes aren't too bad, except there are some control issues. More like, lack of control of the class by the teacher. Sometimes class can be a bit stressful, but I do my best to help kids. That's all I can do.
I have to admit, this tutoring gig is much more enjoyable than expected. I'm starting to get to know the kids and tutor some of them regularly. I'm also getting to know the book Animal Farm extremely well without ever having read it. All the sophomores are writing Animal Farm essays right now and I continually have to ask them to remind me what allegory, satire, and characterization mean. I figure, I'm better help than no help.
It's dinnertime, so my hungry tummy is wanting me to go. So long!
Happy Paczki Day!!
<3 anne
The first day, last Tuesday, was a little shaky. I felt like the awkward girl in the baggy uniform with no clue as to what I was doing. It's called First-Day-At-A-New-Job syndrome. As the week went on, I became much more comfortable in my surroundings and assimilated suprisingly well. The team that had this project before us made us think it was going to be a nightmare. "The kids are little jerks. There's a lot of trouble at the school. The hours are so terribly long." Well, I think the kids are quite nice, they just need some focus. There's some trouble at school (today several kids were arrested for a riot held two weeks ago), but I never feel unsafe. And yes, the hours are somewhat long, we leave campus at 7:15 am, have a 45 minute commute, work at school from 8 to 5 with minimum breaks, and then take another 45 minute commute home which gives us an eta of 6 pm. It was tough the first couple days, but with 8 hours of sleep a night, it's more than bearable.
During the week I tutor all subjects, but primarily math and essay-writing. I also am an in-class tutor for three classes: two Algebra 1 and a geometry class. I definitely pay attention during note-taking time so I can actually help the kids. The classes aren't too bad, except there are some control issues. More like, lack of control of the class by the teacher. Sometimes class can be a bit stressful, but I do my best to help kids. That's all I can do.
I have to admit, this tutoring gig is much more enjoyable than expected. I'm starting to get to know the kids and tutor some of them regularly. I'm also getting to know the book Animal Farm extremely well without ever having read it. All the sophomores are writing Animal Farm essays right now and I continually have to ask them to remind me what allegory, satire, and characterization mean. I figure, I'm better help than no help.
It's dinnertime, so my hungry tummy is wanting me to go. So long!
Happy Paczki Day!!
<3 anne
Monday, February 8, 2010
On the Eve of Woodland
It's that time again. The night before a new project. Last week was transition week. It was another one of those times I wanted to quit AmeriCorps. (For all those concerned, I've come to find that everyone in this program has quitting days as well, so this is fairly normal.) Fortunately, we're all hanging in there together. We had a bunch of meetings, and we were back on campus which means: community meetings, wearing proper uniforms, room checks, the kitchen only being open from 6-7:45 am and 5-8 pm. That's always fun when you forget to pack a lunch... I tried to make a point by just eating 2 granola bars all day, but it backfired on me when I got a 2 day stomach ache. Way to go Anne. I wake up early and pack my lunch now. Lesson learned.
Our briefing and debriefing went well. We also met with another team with whom we are switching projects, and I'm not going to lie, we're all a bit nervous. The biggest challenge is going to be dealing with punk high-schoolers. This is the age (9th and 10th grade) where kids know what no means, and they use it frequently. They know they don't have to technically follow the rules. It also does not help that the kids we will be tutoring have a high chance of dropping out. In addition, I don't remember a thing about freshman and sophomore high school academics. Geometry? King Lear? I never even finished reading it in class and wrote a paper anyways. We all need to do some brushing up.
Tomorrow morning we will be having a half day of orientation and then thrown into tutoring in the afternoon. Although I am apprehensive, I'm sure once we all get adjusted, it won't be bad at all. It's going to be possibly the most mentally challenging project so far (and possibly ever). I'm going to have to think, while trying to gain respect from the kids, and simultaneously re-learning algebra 2. Challenging, yes. Am I going to be just fine? I'm pretty confident. Bring it on.
<3 anne
Our briefing and debriefing went well. We also met with another team with whom we are switching projects, and I'm not going to lie, we're all a bit nervous. The biggest challenge is going to be dealing with punk high-schoolers. This is the age (9th and 10th grade) where kids know what no means, and they use it frequently. They know they don't have to technically follow the rules. It also does not help that the kids we will be tutoring have a high chance of dropping out. In addition, I don't remember a thing about freshman and sophomore high school academics. Geometry? King Lear? I never even finished reading it in class and wrote a paper anyways. We all need to do some brushing up.
Tomorrow morning we will be having a half day of orientation and then thrown into tutoring in the afternoon. Although I am apprehensive, I'm sure once we all get adjusted, it won't be bad at all. It's going to be possibly the most mentally challenging project so far (and possibly ever). I'm going to have to think, while trying to gain respect from the kids, and simultaneously re-learning algebra 2. Challenging, yes. Am I going to be just fine? I'm pretty confident. Bring it on.
<3 anne
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