To those with whom I have shared this blog:
Welcome! I have for awhile wanted an avenue through which I could share my first-year teaching experiences and stories, and I thought a blog would be just the ticket.
When beginning the job application process a few months ago, I marveled at the number of schools out there. How did teachers end up where they were? There are so many! What would ultimately pull me to the school that I'd end up in? At the time, I had my hopes and heart set on staying at Austin High (where I completed my student teaching), but as He always does, the Lord moved in ways that I had not expected nor wanted. When my applications were failing to yield any calls or interviews, I feverishly began applying to any and every school I could find online and even opened my reach to Dallas and Fort Worth. I got my first interview in July, though, and I (and Momma and Pa) were certainly relieved.The Principal offered me the position on the spot, and though I wasn't to give him an answer for another week (and in the meantime receive another offer at an Episcopal school in SA, which I hesitatingly turned down), I left the building thinking, "How the heck did I end up here?" I never expected to be working in a school I'd never even heard of, and yet, I now find myself at that same "here": Northbrook High School in Spring Branch ISD, Houston, TX.
My first week went well. There were no fights. No students cried. They paid attention and answered questions when I asked them. All in all, I have good kids. Most are kind and follow directions well. I am definitely going to have my work cut out for me, though. Students speak Spanish across the room to each other and refuse to tack on the name "Hunt" to "Miss." I've started ignoring students who don't call me by my full name. My typical response: "How would you like it if I just called you 'Boy' and expected you to come running?" I am building good rapport, though. They think I'm funny (sometimes).
It is amazing how much slower I have to go with them because of the number of ELLs I have in class. I cover half as much in a period than I did within AHS. I am going to have to be very very deliberate and careful with my lesson selections- I thought I had so little time to cram everything into the students' heads LAST semester. I am going to have to layer skill upon skill upon text upon text. I am going to learn so much this year. I expect to be frustrated. I expect to be tired (all the time). I expect to mess up. I expect students to disappoint me. But I also expect to have a pretty incredible year. The administration is great, and the other Freshmen Volleyball coach has become my fast friend (i.e. Happy Hour companion). I haven't found a Chilango equivalent here yet, though, but then again, it's only the first week of the year.
I know I am supposed to be here. I have been reading some of my students' writing from the first week's assignments, and it truly breaks my heart to hear of some of the things they've dealt with in their 14 or 15 years: death of friends, loss of babies, responsibilities I haven't even seen at age 22. I hope they enjoy my class. I hope they learn to enjoy reading. I hope they learn to enjoy writing. My constant prayer is that my day will never cease to be about them- about their growth as academic learners and their growth as human beings clinging to this crazy world we live in. May my hands be His hands.
I could really use a nap. Or a hazelnut latte.
