The L-word

Yesterday, I began a new 12-week project that I've been waiting for since 11th grade. It excites me as a way to escape from the harsh reality of TFA, and at the same time makes me more anxious than anything I've done thus far. In a word (well, actually it's an acronym, but still) - LSAT.

My friend Anna (another TFA teacher) and I began our study program yesterday, taking a practice LSAT to see where we're starting from. Surprisingly, we had almost the exact same results, and we're both starting in a relatively good place.

The next 12 weeks until June 4th, when we'll take the exam, we've placed ourselves on a strict schedule of practice and study to be ready by test day. It's funny how much we've used the skills we use each day with our kids - only now the tables have turned and it is WE who have become the test-takers.

The goal is to take the exam in June and then apply for law schools in the fall.

In other news, Miller (the school where I teach) is getting a new 6th grade teacher this week. She'll be replacing a teacher who was moved within the district due to a sexual harassment claim made by one of his students. The new teacher has no teaching experience, is entering the classroom from a career in banking, and will be observing my classroom all day Monday. Since I'm one of only two 6th grade teachers currently teaching both science and social studies, my principal thought it a good idea for the new teacher to observe my class. Hopefully she doesn't get scared off when she sees how misbehaved my kids can be sometimes.

Monday will also be a new beginning for my classroom management and incentive strategies - in other words, how I'm going to get the kids to do what I want them to. Up until now, I've mainly relied on the negative consequence approach (do what I say and you won't drop your conduct grade, get kicked out of class, or written up via office referral). While that seems to work best for my kids, I'm trying a more positive approach this week since Leanne (my partner teacher) will be out yet another week.

My plan is to group my kids by small groups and then have each small group compete against one another for group points. They will earn points by keeping a clean area, being quiet, turning in all their work, etc. We'll see how it goes.

KIPP explosion

BIG NEWS today for KIPP schools in Houston. Mike Feinberg, co-founder of KIPP charter schools, announced today that KIPP Houston has a $100 million plan to expand in Houston, building 35 new schools and increasing its student population by 20,000 in the next 10 years.

For those unfamiliar with KIPP... it was begun in 1994 by two Teach For America alumni, Chris Feinberg and Dave Levin. The program was begun in Houston but has since spread across the country, comprising 52 schools in 16 different states. KIPP focuses on strict discipline, longer school hours (including Saturday school and three weeks of required summer school), and high expectations. KIPP schools have a proven track record in bringing performance levels of low-income minorities up to their higher-achieving peers in regards to math and reading standards--our country's benchmark for educational success. Further, 90% of all KIPP students who graduate from the eighth grade at KIPP have earned college admission, compared to only 20% of their low-income minority peers nation-wide. In other words, KIPP schools are incredibly demanding, but produce incredible results.

Today's announcement is huge for the American system of education. Why? Well for starters, it's the largest capital campaign ever undertaken by a charter school system. KIPP Houston has already raised $65 million, thanks in large part to an appearance on Oprah last spring, coming from such large name donors as the Sam Walton Foundation ($10 million), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation ($10 million), and a family foundation of a large energy firm here in Houston--the Laura and John Arnold Foundation ($10 million).

Secondly, this kind of increase would make KIPP the largest charter school system in the country and create significant competition for the Houston Independent School District, the largest school district in Texas and the seventh-largest in the country. If families in Houston actually have a realistic choice of sending their kids to traditional HISD schools (with the traditionally sub par performance records) or sending them to a KIPP school that promises hard work, academic discipline and college admission, HISD is forced to step things up quite a bit.

I think this is an amazing idea. Think about it. KIPP will be building about 3.5 schools each year over the next decade, adding 2,100 students each year to its stellar program. This is how, in Feinberg's words, KIPP will "reach the tipping point" for students in Houston.

The one concern that I immediately think of, and one that is shared by my roommates, is whether there will be a large enough teacher pool to draw qualified zealots to transform these students into college-bound graduates. To meet this incredible decree, KIPP will need to hire 1,000 new highly-qualified teachers over a decade. Part of the shining light at the end of this tunnel is the fact that TFA has dedicated to increasing its Houston corps to 500 corps members by 2010. TFA is the largest contributor to KIPP in terms of experienced teachers who share the same vision as both KIPP co-founders/TFA alumni. This is only part of the answer though. Perhaps this will cause even more qualified citizens to donate some time back to the education of tomorrow's citizenry.

Between this initiative, HISD beginning to offer performance pay for teachers, and TFA growing its corps, I see great potential for major changes in the Bayou City.

Below are links to the many stories that ran today.

• Houston Chronicle - KIPP academy takes a big step
• Houston Chronicle - KIPP Q&A: Committed to equipping
• KUHF (Houston NPR affiliate) - KIPP announces ambitious expansion
• Washington Post - Charter School Effort Gets $65 Million Lift

True Story - Middle School is Hard!

I'm in New Orleans for St. Patrick's weekend, but I wanted to post a story I read today in The New York Times.

The reporter talks about the unique challenges posed to middle school teachers and points out the growing trend for few to be qualified for the subject matter or in working with the age group. Teach For America is mentioned as one of the solutions a particular principal in the Bronx has relied on.

This story is part of an ongoing feature the Times is running on middle schools.

The Critical Years

For Teachers, Middle School Is Test of Wills

By ELISSA GOOTMAN

Published: March 17, 2007

Middle school teachers often lack expertise in subject matter and the mysteries of the adolescent mind.

Bulldog Dinner

Tonight, my roommates and I hosted eleven Georgia Bulldogs who are in town for Alternative Spring Break. Their service trip is focused on immigration issues, so they've been working with a local immigration center. Today, they actually helped proctor English as a Second Language tests.

The ladies were small in number but were definitely already a tightly knit group - which makes the week a lot more fun! They were telling me about the great work they have completed this week and other service projects they have ahead of them, and I am amazed at what they are having the opportunity to take part in.

Having gone on three ASB trips myself (Birmingham twice and Charleston), and having served as the Executive Coordinator last year, I am really excited to see the Houston trip turn out to be such a success. This issue area is definitely new for UGA ASB, and Houston is the farthest site UGA ASB has ever had. I was fortunate to be able to help ASB expand greatly while I was at UGA, and even though they aren't increasing the number of trips this year, it's great to see the ASB program expand in terms of new issue areas and destinations.

________________________________

On another note, I got an email from a close friend (shout out ASHLEY RUDOLPH!) who was a Coca-Cola Scholar. She received an email from her coordinator about an upcoming speaker at a Coca-Cola Scholar Conference. The speaker is Chris Myers Asch, who is one of two founders of the proposed U.S. Public Service Academy.

The idea is to build a college that prepares a student body "who are committed to devoting their lives to public service." If you ask me, it's about time!

I mention this for two reasons. First, I think it is a noble idea and know there is widespread desire among our generation for such a school. Hopefully, with all the attention it is garnering and the public support in Congress (ie - Hillary Clinton, Joseph Biden, Arlen Spector, Chris Shays, etc.), it will take off.

Second, both founders are Teach For America alumni who spent two years teaching in the Mississippi Delta. As I finish my first year and begin making plans for life after my second year, I'm really starting to focus on the commitment TFA members dedicate themselves to after their two years in the classroom.

While what we really need are good teachers in the classroom, what is ultimately going to facilitate achieving this goal is having policy-makers with firsthand experience in the issues our communities face and are equipped with the knowledge of the changes needing to take place in order to ensure we have the most qualified minds our country can produce; and more importantly, that these minds have the resources and flexibility to do what they do best.

The U.S. Public Service Academy is another example of corps members tackling this lifelong mission, and doing so outside of the classroom.

Interestingly enough, Chris's wife is a student rabbi (and TFA alumna) at the temple in Greenville, MS where Missy Ball teaches Sunday School - what a small world!

SPRING BREAK!

So, I haven't blogged in over a month!

The last four weeks have gone by quickly despite their extremely intense nature. I've been preparing application packets for summer internships (so far, all education related), getting report card grades ready, stepping up my lesson plans so that my students would be ready for our third Science benchmark exam, and then I also had a midterm for my graduate course.

The last two weeks have also been a bit difficult for my partner teacher, Leanne. Earlier this year, her doctors discovered an orange-sized tumor pressing on a major cardiac artery. They've run many tests since then, but never discovered what caused the tumor, or what type of tumor it was. They were able to verify it as benign, but beyond that were essentially clueless as to its nature.

Leanne took last week off for surgery. They weren't able to remove the tumor in its entirety, but removed the part that was pressing on her heart. She'll spent all of Spring Break (possibly longer) to recover from the operation and hopes to return to school ASAP after Spring Break. She goes home from the hospital today.

Paula, my other partner teacher, and I had been taking up the slack in Leanne's absence. Coupled with the fact that it was so close to Spring Break, our students went absolutely crazy with one of their teachers out. Paula and I spent all of our time going between our classes and Leanne's trying to keep the situation under control. To make matters worse, her substitute teacher was sent home Thursday morning before school began due to a poor decision she made the day prior. Turns out, during dismissal she sat at her desk and took pictures of the kids with her camera phone. I have no doubt that she was simply a nice old lady who was fascinated with the new technology, but you can imagine the liability this opens the school up to. Paula and I spent the next two days with 34+ students in each of our classes. Not the best way to spend the last two days prior to Spring Break.

I also had to pick up Leanne's responsibilities as Team Leader for our team of teachers. Basically, she represents six teachers for the administration and serves as a go-between for important tasks like grades, new policies, school-wide decisions, etc. Whenever our principal wants something important to happen, she will utilize the Team Leaders. It was nice to be able to take care of these things for my team, but needless to say, it added a bit more stress to the pile.

So, you can see why I went AWOL for a while. But, now life is great because I survived to see Spring Break.

Last night I enjoyed the Houston Rodeo and a grand performance by Sugarland (the lead singer, Jennifer Nettles, was my 4-H summer camp counselor in fifth grade)! Though it was in Reliant Stadium and we were so far away, I still had a blast with Genivieve, Christina, and Sam.

Jennifer was as hot as ever and her voice was flawless! Sugarland got an amazing review by the Houston Chronicle.

Today, I'm waiting for the car shop to finish with my Jeep. I needed new brakes, but come to find out, I needed several other things too. Funny how you always go in for an oil change and they find about 500 other things you need to fix too!

Today, I'm also doing a very small amount of work which basically equates to plugging in exam grades to see how my classes did for our third benchmark exam. Then I have to figure out how to file taxes. Hmmm... I wonder if the IRS has a helpline?

The rest of my Spring Break is pretty lax. I'm hosting the UGA Alternative Spring Break group for dinner at my house Wednesday night. Eleven girls traveled to Houston to volunteer with an immigrant support center in town. Thursday, two of my roommates and I will be traveling to New Orleans for the weekend - St. Patrick's Day, here we come!