Updates from 1st Grade

After one day of training this summer, I quickly realized that my ambitious goal of weekly updates to my blog was not feasible. I apologize for dropping off the face off the earth over the summer. I'm slowly, but surely reclaiming what's left a normal life and with this transformation will hopefully find time to blog about my adventures in 1st grade :) The past three months have blurred together into a cloud of new experiences and lots (and lots) of busy, sleep deprived days. However, despite the craziness that is my new life in Louisiana, I'm so thankful for the new opportunities this adventure has afforded. Here are the past 3 months in one blog post: (Get excited!)

Phoenix: I spent the majority of the summer in Phoenix, AZ, a lovely desert location with dry heat that I can best describe as being blasted in the face with a blow dryer. I spent 5 weeks in teacher bootcamp teaching a kindergarten class and going to classes on all kinds of teachery things. The days were long, but I learned more than I thought was possible in a five week period. I felt pushed to my limits many times, but was amazed at the fact that at the very moment my strength gave out, God was there supplying me with energy I didn't know I had. Kindergarten was a different world, but by the end of my five weeks with five year olds I found a new found appreciation for all things kindergarten. I learned how to pick my battles, laugh at the little things, and celebrate small victories.

New Roads, Louisiana: I'm currently living in a quintessential small town off a picturesque lake in rural Louisiana. I'm adjusting to the slower pace of the South and learning that a Super Wal-Mart is a luxury not everyone enjoys. (Our Wal-Mart- notice the lack of "Super"- closes at 9...) I drive along the main road, past beautiful antibellum houses that Scarlett O'Hara would have been glad to call home, stop at one of our two stoplights and look out over the lake. New Roads could best be described by the adjective "adorable." However, this apparent beauty masks a lot of deeper problems that weren't readily apparent to me at first. Our town is literally divided by race and a set of railroad tracks. I didn't know places like this still existed. Race is very much a dividing issue here and it amazes me at the drastically different opportunities you are provided based on the color of your skin. Of course there are exceptions to every rule, but the majority of the students at my Title I, at-risk school, are African American. If you go to the other side of town and the private Catholic school, you will see mostly white skin. It's an interesting and horrifying observation to make.

First Grade: I honestly thought I was ready for whatever school would throw at me. I just completed four years of teacher education, went through student teaching at a Title I school, and survived five weeks of intense teacher training. Bring it on, first grade, bring it on... Nothing could have prepared me for the challenges real teaching have brought my way. After getting back from Phoenix, I had a little over a week to get things ready for the first day of school. The day before school I was scrambling to get desks and chairs for my room. I hit the ground running at the beginning and I feel like I've barely come up for air since. I spend my days at school and my nights planning for my nineteen toothless six and seven year olds. There are days I wonder why I'm here. There are moments when I feel like I'm pounding my head against a brick wall. Will my students ever sit still on the carpet, walk in a straight line or sit quietly at lunch? Will we learn that a period goes at the end of the sentence and not three times in the middle? Will we learn that fifteen comes after fourteen and Wednesday before Thursday? I come home exhausted, discouraged and tired of being called Ms. Berg.

However, first grade has taught me how to celebrate small victories. We may not conquer the period or the short /i/ sound in a day, but D will sit quietly for five minutes during a story he loves, K will correctly write her own name (a significant feat for someone who should be in third grade and is still struggling with first grade material), and M will tell me that respect means "treating other people like you want to be treated." We will laugh together at a funny story, work together to figure out how to problem solve being loud in the bathroom, and make Ms. Berg smile because we'd rather play spelling games at recess instead of playing outside. There are still days where information seems to be lost in a black hole, but slowly, very slowly, we're making baby steps in the right direction. We have a lot to do, but I know we can (and will) get there.

Our Classroom Needs: Our school doesn't have extra resources or money to provide my students with extra things for our classroom. You can help! :) I created two projects on Donor's Chose, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to getting resources into at-risk public school. Even $10 can go a long way in our class. Check out our projects:

Read More, Learn More, Change the Globe

We Can See Clearly Now

Closing Thoughts: Words truly can't express how thankful I am for all of the love and support I've been shown throughout this incredible adventure. The moments I've felt at my weakest, I've had countless phone calls, letters, texts and prayers sent my way. I couldn't do this without the love of my incredible friends and family. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm taking this journey one step at a time, learning how to let God's perfect strength be shown through my weakness, and celebrating the little things like crooked, toothless first grade smiles :)