Summer break is over, ;(

I had the last 10 days about with no obligations so I made the most of it!

I explored my neighborhood, Denver's shopping, markets, library, theatre scene, art museum, etc. Last Wednesday I went to Boulder with my friends on a hiking trip up ECAR where we hiked to what we called "Pride Rock" and enjoyed a beautiful view of Boulder and surrounding areas. Thursday I met my other sped teachers at Noel and found out I'll be teaching 8th grade and supporting reading and math. Then I drove out to Basalt, CO where Jake and Kellie Gilliland had been working and invited me out to "luxury camp" with them. Friday I went hiking with Jake and his friend Ben from college, we hiked the Maroon Bells in Aspen/Snowmass area. This was scary! But absolutely beautiful and totally worth the breathing difficulties and rock sliding we did. I had an amazing time. Saturday my friends from Minnesota were here, Andy, Rob, etc. and I met up with them at the Coors Brewery in Golden, CO. Then they came up to Denver and I took them for burgers at City Grille then to Gov's Park where we racked up a good bill of drinks. It was so nice to see them and show them my new city. 

Now I am off to Denver Public Schools Orientation and more TFA orientations next week. It's getting real! I am excited and tonight I am going to see a movie at Red Rocks with my other teacher friends from Noel. Things are good, I'm trying to stay busy and trying new things every day. I miss my family who are all in Michigan on vacation right now, but I am glad I made the most of my time off and am learning more and more about Denver. 

Lots of love, 

C

I'm finally here!

After a long week of flying, driving, moving things, lifting things and unpacking, I am finally settled in my apartment in Denver and getting acquainted with my new city! 

I left Atlanta LAST Saturday to go home to Grayslake for a short time, then my dad and I drove to Minneapolis that Sunday to pick up the rest of my stuff and a Penske moving van. I said more good byes to my room mates and my good friends up there, then Monday morning, we drove for 13 hours straight until we got to Sterling, CO. The next morning we drove 2 more hours to make it into Denver and move all of my stuff up three flights of stairs to my apartment. I'm so glad my dad survived! The altitude and heat made the move pretty intense, but it was so rewarding once it was all done. Wednesday we unpacked and got things arranged and then drove to Boulder for the afternoon, which was fun. My dad left on Thursday, and I had meetings with Teach for America that afternoon as well as Friday. 

This weekend I have just continued to unpack and get my apartment how I want it. It is very cute and it is within walking distance of the capitol, and of many cute neighborhood bars, restaurants, markets, etc. I love it, I have been exploring a little bit, hanging out with friends and today I drove down to Colorado Springs to visit Katie and I got to see the beautiful rocks at the Garden of the Gods. I am constantly in awe of how breathtaking the scenery is here all the time, and I am barely used to seeing the mountains every day I am here. It is great. This week I don't have many meetings, just errands and finishing up plans I need to take care of. I plan on visiting the art museum, the public library and the performing arts center- I have a ticket to see a play there on Sunday, which I am excited for. . 

Overall, things are good! I'll post a few pictures of my apartment and CO Springs. I am happy and going to enjoy this week of time off before I get really busy with training, orientations and preparing for my first day of school, a week from today- August 19th! 

I hope everyone comes out to visit me so I can show you all my new home. :) 

Love from out west, 

C

Done with Institute.. woop

Jalisa making ice cream 

I'll post more pictures of my students, this one is from last Thursday when Zack did his lesson on teaching technical directions and the kids made ice cream in bags. 

This past Thursday, I helped the math teachers do a graphing lines pirate scavenger hunt, which was a lot of fun. I got to be the "captain" and pass out the clues and problems to them..

Our students tested this past Tuesday and Wednesday and after that day very few of them came for the remainder of summer school. We won't know if they passed their test yet but I gave all of them my contact information to let me know if they passed. We also got all of their reading scores back, and they all reached their goals of improving 6 points on the DRA. That means they all moved up at least one grade level in reading this summer from where they started. I am very proud of them and I think they will all do very well in high school. It was hard to say good bye to them, they were excellent and helped me learn so much about teaching.. 

We had closing ceremonies last night and good-byes, slideshows, etc. today. I had to say good bye to a lot of the corps members from other places like St. Louis, Indianapolis, Miami, Atlanta... and also all of the staff we have been working with. Overall, I am relieved that institute is over. I am ready to move forward with my own students and take on all of the challenges that specifically special ed. will bring me. I am also ready to live back out in the "real world" and start my life out in Colorado. It has been a good experience out here, I have learned A TON and made many meaningful connections, but I think having this kind of stress done and out of the way, I will be much more happier and more myself. 

Flying back to Chicago in the am, then driving to Minneapolis on Sunday to collect my things, furniture, etc. Then on Monday my dad and I will start the drive out to Denver with the beetle and a truck of my stuff. It is going to be and adventure! 

Peace and happy summer things I hope you are all doing, 

C

Back to the grind

I spent Thursday night through Sunday evening in Minneapolis and had a wonderful time. I got to see all the great people I wanted to see, even got to see my friends' band play, go to the Taste of Minnesota and have cheese curds and a Grain Belt and see Elvis Costello perform before great fireworks. It was a much-needed, relaxing weekend and I was quite sad to leave. 

But now I'm back in Atlanta for just a few more days.. This week should be pretty laid back though- we have sessions all week and more meetings and workshops in the evening, but my teaching is pretty much done. I taught my last formal lesson plan today and was observed, because my students take their big test tomorrow. I gave a good lesson today and actually gave all of my students my cell phone number so that they can call me when they get the results of their tests. I know that they will all pass, but I want to hold them accountable for letting me know that they passed and hopefully they will call and me proud to say so. 

Tonight I took time out to go see a movie with some people and tomorrow is Katie's 22nd birthday so we may go out and get drinks since things are more laid back now. 

I am also mentally preparing to have a quick turn around at home on Saturday then going back up to Minnesota on Sunday to pack up then down to Denver with my dad on Monday to move in on Tuesday. One more week until I am officially living in Colorado. It is very exciting but I am also nervous about making the big move. I had such a fun weekend and had some doubts and thoughts while I was up there that maybe I should have stayed, things are so good up there, I love it so much and there are so many important people there.. But when I got back here today and saw the kids, I realized that though it will be tough, that this job is important for me to do and that I will do and I want to do it.  There are people counting on me and children's lives who I will hopefully make an impact on. There are going to be challenges ahead, but I am feeling more and more confident about my direction in this, it just takes some deep breathes, a few tears now and then, but then it's back out there and doing good work. 

That's all for now- excited that this is the last week, woo hoo! No more dorm food and little tiny bed. :) 

Peace- 

C

Quick update- good week!

I'm done teaching for the week, and overall I have been really happy about how things went. 

Monday was a bit strange because when we got to Parks in the morning, we found that it had been broken into over the weekend. All of the computer projectors had been stolen, there was graffitti and urine all over the school, and our candy jar was stolen from our classroom. :( This threw all of us off  a but, but I had the students watch the Thriller video and they were very excited about it and did well on their cause and effect assessment. Even though we couldn't watch it on the screen, we huddled around my computer, and they got a kick out of it. My advisor observed me that day and she only had good things to say the next day when we had our de-brief. Today I did a lesson where they had to apply for their dream job on a real job application. This brought up interesting questions about high school, the real world, jobs, etc. things that I think these kids needed and wanted to discuss. The only bad thing that came up today was one of my students used and called another student the "n word" and then proceeded to give him the middle finger. This led to me having a conversation with the class about the implications and disrespect that the n word carries and how I do not allow it in my class for those reasons.  I feel like having this conversation was more productive than actually chastising the student outrightly for using it, especially because it was used very casually but it was done right in front of me. 

Tomorrow evening I am flying up to Minneapolis for my semi-long weekend. I am so excited to see friends and get away from TFA for a bit. Vacation is so much more gratifying when you have lots of work that you can put off in the mean time!

Lots of love and happy 4th of July!

C