First day of School...all over again

Hi friends!

2 weeks ago MEAP results were released. My principal, who is known as the "turn around" principal, was furious. Some of our scores went down from last year. And while some of the scores went up, the highest proficiency percent was in the thirties. This means that 70ish percent of the school is not proficient in academic subjects.

At the same staff meeting we were told that teachers would be moved around because we've got some major changes that need to happen to get our kids in shape. Last Wednesday my assistant principal announced the changes. I'm being moved from 5th grade science and math to 4th grade science and social studies.

Now, here are the pros and cons:
Cons: new kids, my kids won't get the science they deserve anymore, half a year left to teach what you would cover in a whole year.
Pros: NO MORE MATH!!! Had some of the kids as 3rd graders, I like teaching science and social studies, I get to keep my room, I get to start over as a teacher

I could stay mad about the fact that my fifth graders will be with a teacher who doesn't really know how to teach science. That is an injustice. I've poured into them, I've had plans for them. I could stay mad about the fact that I'm going from fifty students to eighty. I could stay mad about all sorts of things. But I don't want to.

I'm happy I'm done with math. I hate teaching math. I'm happy I get some of my third graders from Maybury. I liked those kids. It's going to be like a family reunion on Monday. I'm happy that my administration has enough faith in me to put me in a more critical teaching position (5th grade takes the science MEAP which tests on science learned in 4th grade).

What I'm really happy about is being given the chance to start over in the middle of my first year as a teacher. Thursday night I couldn't fall asleep. My head was full of ideas and plans to shape the culture of my new classroom. I was dog tired on Friday, but had gotten all of my ideas written down so Thursday night's brain explosion was worth it.

I think the most critical thing lacking in student's ability to achieve is motivation. I am reorganizing everything in my classroom and the way that I teach and handle discipline so that students feel empowered and motivated and want to learn. My goal is to be able to convince my students that they are full of greatness, that they are oozing with it. The best part is its not a lie. How crazy is it that the creator of the universe made human beings and hid in them greatness that represents their creator!?! These kids are full of greatness. I know because I have experienced God's love. Oh, how He loves us! I can't preach the gospel, but I can speak the truth. I think students who believe they can succeed will.

I need to make learning fun. Now, I don't usually have a problem with this when it comes to science and social studies, so that's almost already taken care of for me now that math is gone. But learning has to be fun. No one looks back on the lectures they had in the classroom as life changing moments. It is the activities, the investigations, the hands-on experiences that change the lives of learners.

I need to treat students with the utmost respect. Pulling kids aside to address issues instead of putting them on the spot in the middle of the classroom is a must for students to feel safe and cared for. Not showing annoyance is a must for students to feel valued and respected. I've got to change the bad habits I've gotten into. I know I'm going to have some behavior challenges, and I pray that when those come the grace of God falls on me and I can do justly in that situation. I want my kids to be excited to come to my class. And I want them to prove that they are as capable of being respectful, courteous, and kind as any other kid this world has seen. That starts with me being the example.

Detroit has a lot to prove. The nation is waiting for Detroit to finally disappear. But there is too much heart here. Detroit isn't going to just quiet down and get out of the picture. Detroit is going to rise. A shaking has to happen first though. The old structures that aren't stable and secure have to be shown for what they are and broken down. That's what we are going through. That's what I want to make it through. In the middle of the smoke and ashes when this is all said and done, I want to be with an army of kids that are ready to turn this whole thing around - Kids that are intelligent, creative, and determined. That's what I want to give life to in my classroom.

And so, in a way, it is the grace of God that I get to start over. My mind is renewed. My strength is renewed. My vision is clear. And as long as Jesus stays by my side, I will succeed and my kids will come out of this messy city with the wind under their wings. I'm ready for that.

Tomorrow I'm going to make it happen.

Pink Slip

For those of you that are following I decided I would share this information.
On Saturday I came back from a wedding ceremony for a little bit before the reception. Upon arriving home, I opened my mail and found a lovely note from DPS letting me know that, unless recalled, I will be laidoff in a couple weeks.

I broke down. Completely. I couldn't even tell my parents, just had to give the note to my dad. And then everyone in the house came and hugged me, lol.

I'm not worried. I am cautiously optimistic. I don't know what will happen. I texted my principal and her response was "What? Don't worry. Have a good time at the wedding."

Now, I have a very good principal. She tells us all the time that she hand picked this staff purposely. And I've heard from staff that she's kept with her along the years that she doesn't play around when it comes to that kind of decision. I trust that she will do whatever can be done to keep me at her school.

I also trust the Lord. He is sovereign. I did not put this teaching gift inside of me. I did not make my heart love this city as I do. And I did not get this job for myself. All of my experiences and education leading up to this point have been orchestrated by the Lord. I have learned to trust him in all circumstances. I remember the way that he provided for me so tenderly in high school and became my very best friend in the whole world. I know...not from a naive-never-been-through-anything-hard but from a you-were-the-only-one-there-when-I-needed-someone-the-most...that he is faithful and his plans for this life of mine are by far superior to any I can make up on my own.

That being said, I don't know what will happen. I'm not worried...but I am eager to find out if I stay or go...and if I go, then what next.

Well, today at the staff meeting, my principal and assistant principal decided to start handing out "High Flyer" awards to staff who are going above and beyond. I got one. And I'm really glad. I don't like recognition for bragging rights, but I do like recognition...who doesn't?

I hope this means I get to stay. But even if it doesn't, it's good comfort for the time being.

I've taken away Recess

I never thought it would come to this.

Recess is the only bargaining tool that I have.

I've started putting grades into the gradebook and I've found some very disturbing information. Kids are not turning in homework. You'd think I'd realize this every day when I collect homework, right? I collect homework in piles, so I don't ever really know who is turning it in and who isn't. I know now.

One thing that I feel this district has lacked is high standards. So I set high standards for my kids. I told them they will have homework every night. They have to work in my class. It's just not an option. Hard work cannot be an option for students in this district. There is already so much against them. So many of their families are stuck in poverty cycles and aren't able to get out of that. That's got to stop, and as a teacher I can play a key role in teaching kids how to work hard and overcome the things that are in their way.

So recess becomes my time, unfortunately. If they don't turn in homework when it's due, they've still got to do the work. I refuse to let my students settle for D's and F's. They are capable of more. Some of them don't know what they are capable of. Some of them don't believe what they are capable of. Some of them have never been told what they are capable of.

I'll tell them. I'll push them. I'll make them work.

Because I really love them.

Discipline and Love

I have a morning routine like most people. Every day, before leaving for work, I ask my little brother, "Where is my escort?" He says "Right here!" and escorts me to the front door. We exchange our 'good days' and 'good byes' and I walk out to my car. He closes and locks the door behind me.

This morning I woke up to my little brother and sister and boyfriend making waffles. Yum! When I was ready to leave and asked "Where's my escort?" both Zeke and Alex walked me to the front door. Zeke called out as I was walking down the steps, "Discipline, Amy, remember discipline." I said "Okay." Then Alex called out, "Love, Amy, remember love." I said "Okay" and thought how I have been recently reading in the Bible where it talks about discipline is love. Here are 2 examples I've read recently in the book of Proverbs:

Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,
    but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but whoever hates correction is stupid.

I'm reminded of this passage from the book of 1 Corithians when I think about discipline:

If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Discipline is nessacary. That's my job. I have to correct a lot of wrongs: wrong attitudes, wrong answers, wrong behaviors, wrong intentions, wrong procedures...LOTS of wrongs in my day. I have to steer kids toward the right way to respond in different situations, the right way to put the heading on their paper, the right way to work in groups, the right way to pass papers to the teacher, the right way to walk in the hall, the right way to solve an equation, the right way to do many, MANY things.

BUT-discipline without love is FUTILE. It does nothing. Well, I take that back, it does one thing: It makes people angry. Discipline that is not done in love repels people. Doesn't it? Think about a time when you were disciplined by an angry or upset person. It didn't have a positive outcome, did it?

Yesterday was a tough day. I was correcting wrongs all day long. I was completed worn out and so frustrated. My lessons were crap, my teaching was terrible, my attitude was all over the place...it was a rough day. I don't think I was approaching any of the wrongs with love in my heart. The purpose of discipline is to teach the correct behavior. I was just pointing out all of the incorrect behavior.

This morning I got the best reminder from two of my favorite people. Discipline, Amy, remember discipline. Yes, that is my job. A child without discipline will not learn, they will not succeed in the professional world. Yes, I must discipline. I discipline BECAUSE I love. I want my children to succeed. I want my children to know the right way. Becuase discipline is love, it must be done in love, with the attitude of love: with patience and kindness, not in anger, not keeping a record of wrong against a kid, protecting and hoping, and loving even when it's the hardest thing to do.

So, there you have it.

School has been REALLY tough. I'll talk more about that when I have time, but my lunch break is over and I've got a class to discipline and love. :)

Out of the Ashes

Did you know that in 1805 Detroit burnt to the ground? Well, it did. There's a plaque on the red bridge at Belle Isle where I first saw the city seal of Detroit. This is what it says:

Speramus meliora; resurget cineribus

It's the motto of the city that Father Gabriel Richard gave it after his school was burned down. In English it is translated

"We hope for better things; it will arise from the ashes."

Come on!!! If that's not prophetic, I don't know what is.

My heart was stirred on that red bridge at Belle Isle. I never knew Detroit had literally rose out of the ashes before. And if the Lord has allowed us to do it before, perhaps He will allow us to do it again.

I've been in professional development sessions since Monday. I want to share some things I've learned about Detroit Public Schools and the people who carry it on their backs. And I must tell you, I've been close to crying on many occasions in the past couple days because I am not alone in daring to believe that Detroit is not done.

On Monday my principal shared some words concerning the culture of the school I am working in. There is no tolerance for complacency or a lack of excellence in educating kids. This was the first time I heard a principal LEAD their staff in demanding excellence and nothing less.

On Tuesday I sat and listened as Alycia Meriweather (a life long mentor of mine AND the director of math and science for DPS) challenged teachers to raise their standards and expectations. She shared that she would not be in DPS if she didn't firmly believe that we can turn it all around. She called for integrity in all that we do and said that nothing less would be acceptable.

Today I sat in a room full of staff as all DPS tuned in to a live web stream of the Salute to Teachers. Mr. Roy Roberts stood in front of a full audience and explained that Detroit will once again be the leader in urban education in America. Then I listened as my assistant principal spoke on why he continues to work for DPS. He sees the struggle and he feels the pressure of the nation looking on. And while he could choose to live in a more comfortable neighborhood and work for a more affluent district and not have to put up with safety issues, management concerns, pay cuts, etc... he CHOOSES to stay in the city. Why? Because he is willing to be a forerunner in the building up of something great. He has no passion to fit into something that has already been built. He is consumed with Detroit because Detroit needs builders, no matter what the cost, and he's a man willing to pay up.

As I've been listening to all of this my heart keeps stirring within me and one phrase keeps resounding in my head: I will rise out of these ashes. Rise.

A couple months back I was singing and praying and this chorus came to me:
A city on it's knees/ Heart after me/ This is how you rise

People have a lot of bad things to say about Detroit and especially about education in Detroit. My response for years has been that Detroit has a lot of praying churches and God's heart has always been for restoration, redemption, and justice. Every single day that I've been in PD I have not failed to hear my God's name mentioned. When asked if they could choose one person living or dead to be on their personal board of directors, half a dozen of the staff in my building chose their pastors or Jesus himself. While sitting in a PD for new science teachers, the session leader shared that true religion is to take care of the widows and orphans, the fatherless and oppressed. Well that's just plain scripture. And today as Roy Roberts spoke he said that 2 things were crucial to the ending of slavery: the church and education, and that the church of Detroit would not be left out of partnering with the schools to change this city around.

I know for sure that I am not the only Detroiter singing on the inside RISE UP.
A city on it's knees ~ prayer warriors, seeking the Lord's heart
Heart after me ~ willing to pay the price to look like Jesus himself
This is how you rise ~ out of the ashes, here we come

So what I'm trying to say is that while I'm very sober about the job ahead of me, I am so encouraged because the Lord has put his people here on purpose. It is so clear and evident to me when I look around and listen to what the leadership is saying. I dare to believe that the Lord is not done and that Detroit will rise again.

I'm a (REAL) Teacher!!!

Hi friends!

God has really shown me favor these last couple of months. Every job that I applied for wanted to hire me. Lucky for me, the one I prayed for popped up straight away and I didn't have to do much more searching.

I am at Amelia Earhart Elementary and Middle school. It's in the same neighborhood as Maybury (where I did my student teaching). Actually, it's across the park from Maybury. If you remember, Maybury was a preK-3 building. I'm excited to see many of my 3rd graders at Earhart this fall.

Originally I was told that I was being hired to teach 4th and 5th grade science. But, as it turns out in DPS, changes happen all of the time. I found out today from my vice principal that I am going to be teaching 5th grad science AND math. WHICH I AM (actually) SUPER EXCITED FOR! I've taught math before, a LOT before. It's nice to have some sort of comfort zone as a new teacher. To be absolutely honest, the idea of teaching just science has been a little daunting. I have had barely any experience with it. But, then again, I never even liked Social Studies (and didn't know anything pertaining to it) when I began teaching it at the start of last fall. The crazy thing was my students LOVED when I taught SS and even got upset when I had to phase out and give the teaching back over to my mentor. So-if I can teach a subject I never paid attention to well, then I should be able to teach science (which I majored in) well. Right?

There will be four 5th grade homerooms. The plan right now is that I take two of them for 3 hours each day and my partner in crime, Mr. Garcia, takes the other two for 3 hours each day. I can spend the 3 hours however I want, as long as we are doing math or science. I'm excited to integrate the two. I'm also excited to have such a large chunk of time to work with the students on a daily basis.

My classroom, however, is another story. It's empty. EMPTY. It is a beautiful classroom with plenty of cabinets and drawers and storage space to be filled. It's just not been done yet. I do have a set of 5th grade science books. I'm sure I'll get a set of math books. But as far as supplies, I don't know what will come my way. I just finished applying for a project fund at donorschoose.org. If it gets accepted, I'll be sure to let everyone know how they can be a part of supporting my classroom :)

I'm looking forward to this year and love where I'm at so far. I'll keep updates coming your way. Until then, goodnight!