Only 1 Minute Mr. Kim!

The setting: Lunchtime

The players: Mr. Kim and the 4th graders of Room 12 at Carver Elementary

Mr. Kim: Okay everyone! We don't have that much time left in the day! Can we finish our lunches in 15 minutes??!

Student #1: 3 minutes!

Student #2: No! Only 1 Minute Mr. Kim!!

Mr. Kim: Why only 1 minute???

Student #2: Cus we got to learn!

There are moments in my day, where my students simply remind me of why I Teach for America. I can't remember a single moment in 4th grade where I was rushing to eat my lunch so I could get BACK to class.. It was just simply unheard of for me. And yet, here I am, sitting in the middle of Mississippi, experiencing what I never expected a student to say.

I love my class of 4th graders. They are extremely capable. They have big dreams and even bigger imaginations. They possess a love for learning that inspires me. Yet, they are behind. They are grade levels behind in their fundamentals of reading and their foundations in math. Addition and subtraction is a battle, while phonemes and comprehension are a constant struggle. This is my class.

The last two weeks have opened my eyes to a whole new world. Waking up at 5 am, on a bus by 6, and school till 1. Sessions in between classes and after classes. Lesson Planning, Tracking, as well as Management and Investment Plans till 11:30, and the cycle begins again.

It has honestly been one of the hardest and challenging experiences of my life, but I am reminded daily with moments like these of the rewards that are so great.

A friend of mine here at institute recently commented on how similar our experience is to the gospel. As the teacher of a class, we have such a heart for the success of the students. Some students may have a heart for learning, but get distracted and unfocused easily. Others are in outright rebellion and refuse to learn. Yet through it all, the teacher must expect the best of each student and love each student the same. Pushing and motivating the student towards success. Its simply amazing to be reminded that our God is the greatest Teacher of all, loving us even in our sinfulness and pouring grace into our lives.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1) For humility as I serve these students

2) For good stewardship of my time, that I would not waste my time

3) For these students, that they would come to realize the importance of a good education and possibly see the gospel through me.

Praise God for the gospel :)

ON A LIGHTER NOTE:

- I dunno where my camera is (thus the lack of pictures in my posts) So if you could pray that it is in Baton Rouge with the rest of my luggage.

- This video is just awesome! I've never seen Lady Gaga like this, but just shows how talented she is. haha

Perfect Timing

My laptop broke... right when lesson plans were due.

I think I'm going to join the Mac crew

Till then, my last post from a PC

DDAY has arrived

My very first class of students arrive tomorrow for four weeks of intense summer instruction. I've been thinking of what kind of teacher I would be. Will I be funny? Will I be mean? Will my students like me? More importantly, I've thought a great deals about what kind of kids will be in my classroom. Will I have any Calvin's? I've given myself over to the fact that I will not know until I get there. It's a bit crazy, but I'm excited. I feel as prepared as I'll ever be. Hopefully they don't taste any fear.

"Today is the first day of the rest of your life"

This is a quote that frequents the walls of Carver Elementary School and has caused me much thinking over this past week. Tomorrow is most definitely one of those days that will dictate the next two years, and possibly more, of my life. I am thrilled, scared, nervous, excited, happy, and insecure all at the same time. I can only pray that God would bring me through it. That he would grant me the humility to serve these children as best as I can.

Tomorrow is Dday. I begin my career as an educator as a 4th grade teacher at Carver Elementary. Tomorrow, is the first day of the rest of my life.

Prayer Request - Please pray that I would serve these children with humility and love. That I would be a good influence and a gospel witness.

It's Aliveee!!!

So I'm back!!!

It's definitely been a while since I've last posted. I would like to apologize and recommit myself to the discipline of frequent blogging and journaling :)

I will set the following goals (in traditional TFA spirit) for my blog :)

1) I will update at least twice a week

2) I will write about one particular event/thought

3) I will write concisely

4) I will include one picture in each entry

I will get to my road trip to South Louisiana (SLA) in my next entry but first a little background of what I'm doing here for those of you who are just joining the conversation!

I am part of a program called Teach For America and have been assigned to teach Secondary Special Education in South Louisiana. I'll be in the city of Baton Rouge or in one of the surrounding parishes for the next two years.

The reason I initially joined Teach For America was because I saw it as a great opportunity for personal and professional development. I figured it would be a great transition following four years of college, to give back to the community, and kind of postpone having to make more life decisions for two years.

Since then, this thought process has definitely progressed as I better understood the issues that are facing children of low-income communities all over the nation and heard the voices of those who are being affected by it. So as I embark on this journey of learning and growing! I hope to keep you all well informed of how my thoughts progress and how my life changes to reflect it :)

To end! I have 2 videos instead of a picture that will more eloquently describe the program I'm in and paint a better picture of the issues that I think I'll be posting about in the future.

NEXT: The Trip to SLA!