Friday marks the end of my first semester as a real second grade teacher. When you join TFA there are a couple of jokes (specifically linked to the Mississippi Delta experience). The first is that you will either become an alcoholic or a marathon runner. I am running seven miles later today to train for…

I was leaving today at 3:30 for what may be the first time at this school when I ran into a gaggle of teachers. Mrs. Mahroney stopped me to tell me that there had been a shooting at the Boys and Girls’ Club up the street. I fell into the water fountain and went to…

I went home for Thanksgiving and did not document the experience. I was warned that it would be hard and wonderful to go back to my old life and believe me, it was. At the same time, I live in Jackson, Mississippi. I had things to worry about here and things to get to and…

It has been quite a while since I’ve updated and I promise, it’s with good reason. The following is still hard to wrap my mind around and I’m not sure how I feel about it but it is what it is so please read on. About three weeks ago I received a phone call at…

There are very few things in the world better than standing in a room of children and having them mob you with hugs.  Today, I was mobbed with hugs given by children that I do not know.  They know me as the lady who eats the green burritos.  I’m way okay with that, it means…

Today I started a discussion about people who helped other people.  I read a book about Martin Luther King Jr. to my kids and made an attempt to get them to understand that it’s not just black people that he fought for but rather it was in an attempt to see that everyone receive the…

I get notes from children on a regular basis now.  I keep all of them but the one that I received today really got me.  I think I’m going to frame it. Mrs. Bullie and I started a bet on which group, the boys or the girls, would behave the best.  She took the girls…

**This entry was saved from several weeks ago. My angry child, made the above statement today to the disagreement of LaDiamond and Benneisha (I love them).  He said that just because they let me in a classroom doesn’t mean that I’m a real teacher.  I should say that this followed his lack of homework.  I…

I am buried in paperwork, ready to collapse at any moment, and generally ready for a very long break and good night’s sleep.  My very good friend from college came to visit me this weekend and helped me grade spelling tests on Saturday.  I took her to the airport, ate ice cream, and started entering…