Long Days, but they fly by?

I feel like I'm back at my summer training of institute with Teach For America. Days go by so fast, but at the same time, you look back and each day seems like 5! I guess the schedule 7-5 is really jam-packed!

We finally finished our first 2 weeks of actual teaching and lessons and it's definitely been a roller coaster ride. If I'm having a good day Monday, guaranteed someone else is not and is needing my support. If I'm having an awful day Tuesday guarantee SOMEONE is having a good day and will be there to help me out. The teamwork at my school floors me and really makes this high-stakes, high-stress environment manageable.

I've found that the more I get to know my students and let them know I DO care about them and will be sticking around and strict no matter what they do, the more they respond. I'm gaining an inch every day... Examples that stick in my head:

Tuesday: J talks out, I give him a demerit (his 3rd which = a detention) he screams out "This is not fair, I don't get it" and starts bawling and spewing snot in the middle of class. My heart is breaking on the inside but the next day I sit down and have a heart to heart with said child and he thanks me for how much I care about him and how I'm pushing him to succeed, it's just hard.

Wednesday: J (different student) storms into class fuming and refusing to do anything. Surprised (because he was generally so compliant and excited to learn) I sent him to our dean to try and talk out whatever was wrong. Turns out he had a family member pass away that weekend, I late had a sit down with him and let him know my grandfather had just passed away as well and that I understand how difficult it is and I am there if he needs to talk.

Thursday: Class 3 (my toughest class). I inform them that my mother is from Colombia South America, and that she speaks Spanish. I then proceed to have a 2 minute conversation with them completely in Spanish. The kids who had been giving me such a hard time's eyes light up and are so impressed with my ability to speak. They let me know they were impressed and that I did well.

Friday: C comes up to me and shoves a book I let her borrow in my face and said with a lot of attitude "Ms. Gerlach this book is lame, I need a new one!" I said, "C please try that again". C said, much more politely "Ms. Gerlach, this book is lame I need a new one *smile :)". After talking with her about what I meant by do it again I thought she didn't get it....until later that day C said "Ms. Gerlach, I really did appreciate you letting me borrow that book, I did enjoy it but I read it so many times and I wanted a new one so bad so I wanted to let you know".

They might seem simple, and small, but the growth our students is making is incredible. Are they testing us? Most definitely, will they continue, unfortunately Yes. But I think it's these little wins that will get us ALL Through the year!

On a funny note

Had a parent call me last night conversation:
Parent: Ms Gerlach, my son C tells me he's only allowed to use the restroom 2 times a trimester and accordingly wet himself at home because he didn't want a demerit, i feel like that is not right".
Me: I think he misunderstood.


2 times a trimester=emergency restroom
6 times per day = reality (in certain times)

But I guess I got some point across?

WOW I can't believe we've done it!

Week 1 at my new school.. over

They said students in this city can't stay silent at breakfast/lunch...they did it
They said students in this city are bound to talk back...they're refraining
They said students in this city won't do their homework... they are
They said attendance in this city is poor...over 95% every day
They said parents in this city don't care...phone calls every night
They said things in this city are hopeless...they are not
They said students in this city are bound to drop out of hs and not go to college...these will

I'll be honest... parts of me definitely believed a lot of the above... the beliefs and ideas that people have held about students in this city, a city that has a "failing education system" and has had one for years.

I didn't think this week would go so smoothly, but today after seeing our children chant
"Where are you headed-COLLEGE! Will you succeeed-YES! When you succeed what will you do?-Change history give back to our community!"
I knew that we were on the right path!

That doesn't mean we haven't had struggles, Oh we've had struggles! The kids are starting to test us, to see if we're real. For some it's very difficult staying in their seat, and not talking out of turn is like torture. But they're doing it!

Do we have a ways to go? Most definitely. But ALL the hard work we've put in, the long hours, the month of PD have shown, and in a big way!

One of our students came to school today after being shot at the night before at a gas station, and spending the majority of the night in the hospital ER. When asked if he was sure he could be at school, if he wanted to go home he said
"Nothing stands between me and college".
If that doesn't say something I don't know what does.

Needles to say I'm inspired :) and ready for a great year!