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