I guess I'll just post in here too since some people may be too lazy to comment on my actual blog
***Nothing I write about reflects AmeriCorps or the U.S. government but is merely a reflection of my personal thoughts, observations, and perspectives. My entries about work may be boring and uneventful, but I am using this blog for my own personal memory and you are all more than welcome to indulge***
I began my first day at the elementary school I'll be working at for the year. My supervisor is great and seems really cool, so it should be a pleasure to work under her. She showed me around the school and I got to meet most of the staff, all of whom I can probably remember 1% of the names.
It's a 2 floor building, K-3 first floor, 4th and 5th in lower level. Because the school is wayyyy over capacity this year, space is incredibly limited. For example, they are now turning the music room into another first grade classroom. And this is where my new "desk space" will be located. I am given a corner of this new classroom, and whether or not I get an actual desk is questionable. I may have to settle for a counter. Oh, and while this transition is taking place, I am sitting in a corner of the staff lounge next to the printer, using counter space underneathe the mailboxes and next to the lunch table. Oh, did I mention the staff lounge is a former gym locker? So yes, the staff lounge is neighbor to the gymnasium/cafeteria. I will begin bringing ear plugs to work, or else blast my Ipod so loud I will become deaf, which in turn will allow me to be immune to the loudness.
MSCR has been working at this school for 5 years already, so I am glad that there has already been a relationship established. This means (theoretically) that I am well accepted as part of the school district and there (hopefully) will not be any animosity between the 2 organizations.
I also have to say I love the school's surroundings. It's located in a quiet neighborhood and is surrounded by a plethora of greenness and trees, making it more in tune with a nature and more pleasurable for viewing.
Anyway, in case you're wondering what I'll be doing exactly, I'll be running an afterschool literacy/tutoring program called "Reading Buddies" for K-3 students with low proficiency in reading. I'll be recruiting volunteers (anyone interested apply within!!!!! desperately needed) to tutor and help run these activities. I'll also be tutoring ~8 students one-to-one throughout the week, helping with other club activities, planning service-learning projects, and helping with family literacy nights. Busy but hopefully rewarding and good learning experience for me, the school, and the children.
Oh yea, I met a Hmong art teacher who 1) knows my older brother 2) met my mom 3) lives in my neighborhood along with my supervisor 4) is from Sheboygan, and most importantly 5) created a program for the new refugee kids to help them intergrate into American way of life (how to answer a teacher's question, go to the bathroom, pull out tissue from a tissue box, etc...). Pretty good program, I think.
Today's highlight/lowlight:
+: yummy (but rich) chocolate delicacies at the staff meeting
-: my can of cherry coke from the vending machine was busted and leaking
I began my first day at the elementary school I'll be working at for the year. My supervisor is great and seems really cool, so it should be a pleasure to work under her. She showed me around the school and I got to meet most of the staff, all of whom I can probably remember 1% of the names.
It's a 2 floor building, K-3 first floor, 4th and 5th in lower level. Because the school is wayyyy over capacity this year, space is incredibly limited. For example, they are now turning the music room into another first grade classroom. And this is where my new "desk space" will be located. I am given a corner of this new classroom, and whether or not I get an actual desk is questionable. I may have to settle for a counter. Oh, and while this transition is taking place, I am sitting in a corner of the staff lounge next to the printer, using counter space underneathe the mailboxes and next to the lunch table. Oh, did I mention the staff lounge is a former gym locker? So yes, the staff lounge is neighbor to the gymnasium/cafeteria. I will begin bringing ear plugs to work, or else blast my Ipod so loud I will become deaf, which in turn will allow me to be immune to the loudness.
MSCR has been working at this school for 5 years already, so I am glad that there has already been a relationship established. This means (theoretically) that I am well accepted as part of the school district and there (hopefully) will not be any animosity between the 2 organizations.
I also have to say I love the school's surroundings. It's located in a quiet neighborhood and is surrounded by a plethora of greenness and trees, making it more in tune with a nature and more pleasurable for viewing.
Anyway, in case you're wondering what I'll be doing exactly, I'll be running an afterschool literacy/tutoring program called "Reading Buddies" for K-3 students with low proficiency in reading. I'll be recruiting volunteers (anyone interested apply within!!!!! desperately needed) to tutor and help run these activities. I'll also be tutoring ~8 students one-to-one throughout the week, helping with other club activities, planning service-learning projects, and helping with family literacy nights. Busy but hopefully rewarding and good learning experience for me, the school, and the children.
Oh yea, I met a Hmong art teacher who 1) knows my older brother 2) met my mom 3) lives in my neighborhood along with my supervisor 4) is from Sheboygan, and most importantly 5) created a program for the new refugee kids to help them intergrate into American way of life (how to answer a teacher's question, go to the bathroom, pull out tissue from a tissue box, etc...). Pretty good program, I think.
Today's highlight/lowlight:
+: yummy (but rich) chocolate delicacies at the staff meeting
-: my can of cherry coke from the vending machine was busted and leaking