maineiac in kc

So today is the beginning of Round Zero!  I am writing this after a day’s worth of planning for my students, working online and practicing determining rigor and mastery.  Although that stuff is important, but I’d imagine that if you managed to make it this far to read this post, you probably don’t want to hear my thoughts on the importance of that stuff (although it IS important).

 Instead, I figured that I’d document my epic trip from Northern New England to Kansas City.  On this trip was myself, my father, my green Jeep Grand Cherokee, tons of clothing, movies, and pots and pans, and a bag of fresh veggies (gotta prefer those to whatever you could find in rest stops).  On the first day, my alarm went off at 5 am, and I awoke to see rain pouring down on me.  I’d spent probably seven hours the previous day trying to maximize as much space as possible in the midst of a rainstorm, meaning that by the end of the day, I was soaked, frustrated, and ready to go to bed.  Therefore, I was unable to take a lot of things that I’d wanted when I actually left (aka, living life without fans or some pots and pans, plus less essential things like pillows, ice skates, and cross country skis). 

Anyway, the car was so jam-packed that when I looked in my rear-view mirror, all I could see was stacks of bags crammed into the back of my car.  We hit the road, with a quick stop in town, then headed southwest.

My father and I decided to go to Gettysburg to see the battlefield.  I took a couple of courses on the Civil War, and between that and seeing the film, Gettysburg, I was so amazed to finally be there.  Also, on the whole trip, I listened to The Killer Angels by Michael Sharra.  It technically is a work of fiction, given that he infers a lot in the story of what occured at Gettysburg, but he bases the vast majority of his work on historical documents.  The story documents the actions and thoughts of Union General Buford, Col. Joshua Chamberlain (of Maine) and the 20th Maine, and then Union Generals Lee, Longstreet, among others.  The story in and of itself is fantastic, and really kept both of us awake on the drive to Gettysburg, then allowed me to have a much deeper understanding after I left, being able to visualize what the ground looked like as it was described.

 That night, we stayed in Washington, Pennsylvania although we were without either internet or a good restaurant.  My GPS sent me to three closed restaurants, hinting that maybe we should just eat at the next place we spotted.  The ended up being a chinese buffett, which is sort of hit or miss (in this case, miss).

That night, I got to watch my favorite show, Burn Notice, and generally get some shuteye.

That being said, the next morning we were up before six, and stopped at a donut shop for juice, coffee, milk, and a donut apiece to fuel up.  We filled up the car with gas (our second of the trip, I believe), and quickly entered West Virginia (after crossing NH, MA, CT, NY, NJ, PA) where the speed limit was 70 (a new experience for me).  We soon entered Ohio, then made it to Illinois.  We finally stopped somewhere in the midst of all the corn (seriously, take I-70) to eat at a place the GPS suggested, which ended up being a sort of local buffet which was, I kid you not, in an old barn down a long road surrounded by fields of corn.  The food actually was really good, and we kept going, stopping at a place in Indiana past Indy where “Foot-High Pies and Free Wi-Fi” were advertised.  The pie was good, the net was excellent.  After resting up there for a bit, and probably getting our fourth tank of gas (although at the bargin price of 3.67, much cheaper than the 3.99 I paid in NH), we got back to it.  We entered Illinois, and made sure to take a picture as we crossed the Mississippi River.  That was my first up-close view of the river, and it was really exciting to see the river.

 That night, we stopped at Kingdom City, Mo and ate at a place called “The Post Office.”  The food was good, although my father was surprised that gravy in Missouri is actually white and not brown.  We went to bed early (after catching up on the Tour de France) and left the next morning for my humble home in Kansas City.

 I spent the next day and a half moving in, unpacking, shopping, and generally stretching a dollar as far as possible.  Used bed-frame - check, used chairs - check, and so on.  Still, the place actually looks nice now, and I’m basically ready to go.  I just need to get bigger trash bags, stamps, and an ice tray and I’ll be all good.

 Finally, I just wanted to address why I am teaching in Missouri, of all places.  Some people (not in the comments, per say), but in person, have asked why I’d consider moving to the midwest if I love Maine and New England so much.  Anyone who knows me knows that I talk of Maine (and NE) constantly, so what the heck am I doing in Kansas City?!  Well, when I decided to apply for TFA, I thought that this was a great opportunity for me to do several things.  Firstly, this would allow me to follow the motto of my college, namely to be Men and Women for Others.  I was not only thinking of that, but helping others is something I’ve always believed to be essential to my own life, and I almost believe that I get more out of the experience than whomever I am working with, because I find joy in my own life by making others happy.  I also love learning, and remember respecting and admiring my teachers for helping to shape my future and who I am today.  The opportunity to inspire others to try their best and to learn is just so exciting for me.

But as to why Missouri.  Well, I thought at the time, this was a chance for me to go somewhere that I might not generally go.  To be honest, I know that I had steriotypes and bad jokes in mind when I thought of this area that I now lovingly call home.  Having never been here, I pictured corn, cows, corn, tractors, corn, and probably more corn just for good measure.  I never really thought of the place itself, or what it was like.  So when I started to do some research on the possibly sites I could go, something caught my eye.  I thought this was a place maybe a little off the beaten track for me, and maybe deciding to pull a bit of a Frost move and take the road less traveled, I put it as my number one choice.  I have been nothing but thrilled since I have seen the city up close and personally.  The city has so much culture to offer, lots of great music, fun stuff to do, the cost of living is low, the people are friendly and the food is amazing.  Its been well worth it to be here, and I know that between that fact and how amazing it is to see the fantastic people with whom I am working in TFA, its just one of those feelings you get when you know you’re in the right place.  Contentment and happiness, I guess.

 Anyway, I need to try and make some dinner.  I have a gas stove, and lets just say that matches are involved at this point until my landlord fixes the thing…  Hope everyone is getting ready for the start of school, or that you’re staying cool, at least, in the midst of some hot and humid weather!

So, its 1:39 am on the west coast, and I’m watching one of my two favorite tv shows, The Deadliest Catch.  Its not that I don’t want to be in bed, its just that I will be getting picked up by the Super Shuttle in about an hour to catch a five am flight.  First to Dallas/Ft. Worth, then Boston, then a drive north…

I am 100% amped to get back to the East Coast for a few days to see some family, pack up some things, and just destress after Institute.

 As much as I love the people I met here, I am glad to be leaving.  Its just the idea of sending 600 people to Phoenix in July is clinically insane to me.  I know that there were a lot of positives:  I loved my students (several of whom made me goodbye cards), I loved taking trips to Mill Street to hit up the bar scene or going to the Vine just for fun, but at the same time, I am looking forward to going to a place where people don’t say that I have a Maine (or even worse, Boston) accent.  I swear, I don’t have an accent, although I can occasionally do a mean accent.

 Anyway, until I hit the road, assuming that the shuttle shows, I’ll be chilling here in the tv room at Hassayampa Academic Village in Tempe, Az. 

 I’ll make it back home probably around seven or so in the evening tomorrow, making for one long day of travel.

 Best of luck to all in their travels home from Phoenix, a special goodbye to all the ICs heading around the nation to do some amazing work, and to all those still working away at the other Institute sessions, keep it up, there is a light at the end!!

-Tom

Welcome, Welcome, to the first post of my blogging career.  Hmm, you’d think that I’d have some better way to start this blog off, but I guess not.  I suppose I ought to tell you who I am.  I am a (soon to be) 23 year old recent college grad from The College of the Holy Cross.  I majored in history, and am thrilled to be teaching for America in Kansas City, Missouri in KC’s 1st opportunity with TFA.  I originally was to be a high school history teacher, but I instead will be working in sixth grade, teaching Language Arts and Social Studies (which in and of itself is fantastic, given that sixth grade was when I started to love history).

 Anyway…

 I just got back from the closing ceremonies here in Phoenix.  Between the inspirational stories from fellow Corps members, the video show of some of the highs (and lows) of the past five weeks, and also the chance to just be together one last time, it was pretty inspirational.  I believe my direct quote to Amanda was, “Fire up the buses and round up our kids, we’re teaching some more tonight!”

Obviously, I’m probably too tired to teach at this point, and I think that I’ve figured out by now that going without a solid LP is probably a bad idea if I truly want to have my students make measurable gains and be invested.

That being said, I am totally amped for tomorrow.  Its our festival day at Cloves C. Campbell, and hopefully I’ll be able to meet some of the parents of the fourth grade students I’ve been teaching for the past four weeks.  Obviously not everyone can come, given that people work, but it still is going to be really nice to have a day to see other classrooms, joke with my students, and play Hollywood Squares (Teacher Edition), Jeopardy, and Around the World.

When I reflect back on teaching this wonderful class, its odd to look at the progress both they and I have made.  I played a large role in the DRA (Diagnostic Reading Assessment) of our students, given that I entered all the data and did a substantial portion of the actual testing, and to see the final results was astounding.  All of our class (well, all that is left) reached their goals.  100% improvement.  8 students stayed the whole time, and all 8 hit their goals.  The fact that L went from scoring ones in all categories to being able to make predictions, interpret text, and summarize in only four weeks is just so thrilling to me.  At the same time, I know that I need a larger goal that a few points on a test.  I’ll be teaching sixth grade in KC, and I need to get these students caught up.  But I do know that I’ve got a long way to go.  I never thought this would be easy, but I guess I just kind of thought that if I came in and explained how division works, students would just get it.  Its so much harder than that, and it takes some real creativity, along with a lot of people from staff to set up ways to help me get better.  Between my CMA, CS, LS, and everyone else, I just have tons of committed people there ready at the drop of a hat to meet with me, observe me, or else lend a kind ear.

 Anyway, I think I better head over to the Vine, a local watering hole, to meet up with the rest of my corps and say my goodbyes to the many amazing and inspirational people I’ve met over the last five weeks.  These people are either staying here in the desert for the Phoenix Corps, heading to Greater New Orleans, Southern Louisiana, the reservations of New Mexico, Indy (home of the hated Colts), plus our one token Houston corps member (who we have adopted as a KC member as he lived on our floor).

That being said, I am amped to get back to KC and move into my house.  I’ve got a long drive from Northern New England all the way to Missouri, but I’ll try to make some fun stops along the way!  I know Gettysburg is on the list, and we’ll see what else is along the way!

 Until I make it to KC, good luck to all my fellow teachers (especially to those members starting to teach next week [looking at you Amanda and Amber]), and have a great summer everyone!