I was trying to teach my students today what a neutral country was, as we are reading a book about the conflict/civil war in Cambodia after 1975.  I ask my kids: “What do you think the word neutral means?”

Student A:  “You mean like if I’m driving my car and I put it in neutral and it just stops and mad people honk at me and I’m like whoa get out of my way!”

Student B: “Yeah yeah neutral with your car.  Yeah.  But it has to be a sweet car”.

So today I taught about neutrality with states by using cars as an example.  Cambodia turned into an RV with lots of beds to fit everyone in Cambodia, Vietname and Russia would have their “communist” cars and the US would have some crazy car with nukes (as my one student explained it).

Yes, class was quite interesting and it was only 9:45 in the morning.

Today has been an awesome Saturday.  I “slept” in till 7:30 (stupid birds outside of my window), ran some errands, did some shopping, and enjoyed some Starbucks.  But, now I will spend the rest of the day cramming.  Not for a class or assignment, but on my students.  I have about 150 students who live in a nasty part of Columbus.  Of these students, 99% of them receive free lunch and breakfast, 40% are Somalian immigrants, and a majority of them live with either a single parent, relative, or in a foster home.  Looking at my life growing up in a suburban area with low poverty and a middle class mentality, I really don’t know or understand the life my students go through.  Yes, I grew up with a single parent but I didn’t have to start washing my own clothes when I was in the third grade or have to save up pennies to buy my own deodorant.  I didn’t have to drive to school wondering if I was going to see a dead body at a crime scene, which happened to some of my students this week.  So I have begun my research.  I found a book at B&N today written by an African-America woman that teaches white teachers like myself how to teach African-American students.  How to approach the classes so that I don’t 1. seem like a racist and 2. let typical stereotypes get in the way.  I am also starting to do more and more rearch on Somalia and Muslim tradiations by reading and asking the Somalian teachers at my school.  I’m hoping that maybe, just maybe I can reach my kids a little bit more if I can demonstrate to them that although I haven’t been through their life, I can still help them make it through their own.

The past two weeks I have begun my teaching experience at an inner city charter school in Columbus, Ohio.  The school has both African-American children and also those from Somalia, who have fled the civil war and violence that is going on there.  These children are also Muslim and as this past month has been Ramadan, the religious month for those who are Muslim, I was truly inspired to see them practice their religion.  Everyday in homeroom I would go through and take attendance, but also take the lunch count (at our school, kids receive free lunch and breakfast, so we need to take lunch count to know how many to order).  During this lunch count, my Somalian students would raise their hands for not packing their lunch or getting a hot lunch, but for fasting.  My 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students would fast every day for their religion, their belief.  Seeing this has been truly inspiring.  I am a young adult, yet I find it hard to fast on Good Friday for my religion, my belief that I feel so strongly about.  Yet my teenage students are willing to go day in and day out without food for their religion.  Seeing their dedication has truly inspired me to not only become more passionate about my faith, but to look at all things in my life and approach them with a new passion.

Hopefully, this helps you become passionate about the things in your life as well.

I apologize for the lack of updating, but it has been a crazy week, to say the least.  I dove into teaching on Tuesday, walking into the school not knowing what I was teaching, how many kids I would have, and basically not knowing anything about the school.  First day- wow.  All of my students are basically considered at risk- I do have some students who seem to have a good concept of basic skills, but most do not.  I had 4 different preps, which in teaching world a prep is one class you need to create a lesson for.  This week it was 6th grade reading (two classes), 7th grade reading, 7th grade social studies (two classes), and 8th grade writing.  It was an interesting experience getting to know my students and actually having my own classroom- my own desk and area that I can decorate as I like.  The biggest challenge this year is going to be classroom discipline and getting my students to understand that what I’m teaching them, such as the basic skills of reading and writing is going to be beneficial to them!  Especially since most of my kids have been living with the responsibilities of an adult that they don’t feel they need to know basic history or skills.  Hopefully, I’ll be able to reach some of them.

The big highlights of the week:

1.  My first fight happened on Wednesday.  I had one girl punch a guy in his privates, so he punched her in boob.

2.  I get to help plan a trip to DC with my 7th and 8th graders in the spring.   It should be an ummmm… interesting experience.

Stay tune for more exciting stories:o)

A – Age: 22

B – Bed size: twin:o(  I really need my big girl bed…

C – Chore you hate: ask my big one, i’m pretty anti cleaning- I like a little bit of disorganization in my life.

D – Pet’s name: Ricki my nephew-pet

E – Essential start your day item: Hi coffee.

F – Favorite color: blue, pink, purple.

G – Gold or Silver: silver

H – Height: 5′4″

I – Instruments you play(ed): piano for a few years, trumpet for 1, french horn for many… although I didn’t really play.

J – Job title: Social studies slash reading slash writing teacher.  6 classes a day, 4 different preps- wow.

K – Kid(s): no thank you.

L – Living arrangements: crashing at my big one’s house with her finance and doggie.

M – Mom’s name: Donna.

N – Nicknames: Ahhhhme, little one, Sultzy.

O – Overnight hospital stay other than birth: Almost appendix issue in college.

P – Pet Peeve: people say “like” and “um” wayyyyy to many times in a sentence.

Q – Quote from a movie: In honor of my friend: “You’re like a drug to me.  You’re my own brand of heroine”.  Ohhh robert pattinson.

R – Right or left handed: righty.

S – Siblings: girlymama, busygirl and puzzling aloud.

T – Time you wake up: now it 5-5:30ish.

U- Underwear: duh.

V – Vegetable you dislike: weird ones… ask my family, i’m very picky.

W – Ways you run late: I am easily distracted by shiny things.

X – X-rays you’ve had: right arm more then I can count… the brain too a couple of times.

Y – Yummy food you make: I’m very good at pouting and rubbing my tummy while big one makes me food:o)

Z – Zone: eastern

For the first time in 4 years, I have a three day weekend.  At my liberal arts school, there isn’t any recognation for holidays, especially those that are nation (labor day, president’s day, MLK day, etc).  But, this year I get to finally enjoy labor day and a three day weekend.  Although my weekend is slowly turning into one of preparation for my upcoming week of teaching, its nice to sit down a the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and daydream about the upcoming weeks and life in general.  Or just to play with the puppy or watch a band of brother’s marathon.  Three day weekends are nice, and although I wish I could be in Cleveland with the fam, I am enjoying a few days by myself, thinking and planning for the craziness that will begin on Tuesday:o)

Came across this article this afternoon- its a collection of photos from Russia from 100 years ago… in color!!!  One of the many many reasons why I love history.  Take a look of the pictures, the stories they tell, the people who lived through the rule of Nicholas II, the fall of the Russian Empire, the beginning of Communism under Lenin and Stalin… its incredible to think of what they experienced.

Enjoy!!:o)

Last night I had the worst interview experience ever.  I received a text message (yes, a text message) 15 minutes before my interview as I was driving to the school that informed me the director had just hired someone and there was no need for me to come to the interview anymore.  I was livid.  I was pissed.  I was in tears.  Why couldn’t they just give me a chance?  Why has no one been giving me a chance and letting me demonstrate and tell them how I can be an amazing teacher?

Then today came around.

And I got a job.  At a school.  Within my license area (currently I am working at a preschool/daycare).  Someone wants me to teach their kids.  Someone wants me to join their staff family and help these kids who have nothing in life see how powerful an education can be for them.  Through the highs and lows of this summer’s job search, I am happy to announce that I will be, as of Tuesday, a teacher at a middle school teaching 7th, 8th and possibly 6th grade social studies.  Which means this weekend I will be prepping with ideas for lessons thus upcoming week!

Although I finally got a full time job, this article speaks to how I have felt the past four-five months… filling out job application after application, never hearing back from any one (even after interviewing).

Class of 2009

Got a full-time job doing something that semi-relates to my teaching career.  I will become the new toddler teacher at a daycare/school that is only 10 minutes away from my house.  So, slowly, things are progressing.