Yesterday was the first day to meet students. I had only two in the morning and three in the afternoon. We did some introductions and one group math lesson, but otherwise a lot of time was spent in completing TABE pre-tests. (Tests of Basic Adult Education) I even got a little bored and watched the clock--something I almost never did when working in Family Literacy.
The only situation that had anything to do with transportation was one 17 year old wondering how to get a student ID so she could get a free bus pass. That was easily solved when another student drove her to the adult education office to get an photo ID made. It was nothing like last year's problems of students waiting for buses that didn't come, and then when they did come, bringing them to the wrong site.
The students are young. Two are 16 and one is 17. At least two have been in foster homes and at least two have "legal guardians." At least four are on probation. I think as always there will be many stories.
Today because most testing was finished, there was more time for group lessons and individual interaction. I was tired at 2:30 and the time went faster. Next week there should be double the amount of students. So far, I am convinced I made the right decision--to give up directing Family Literacy and just do the teaching.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Downstairs, not Upstairs
After a long day of meetings yesterday, I was eager to get into my classroom and prepare for students next week. My goal was to go through old files and sort materials in order to pass some of them on to S, my replacement upstairs at Family Literacy. The former teacher downstairs left me a wealth of materials and a very organized system of test booklets, answer sheets, and other necessary forms. At some point, I need to decide what I can use from all of those files.
I made phone calls to potential students. I had a stack of student files from orientation and from last years' class. As always, I hit dead ends. "This number is no longer in service" was a phrase I heard at least four times out of the ten calls I made. Over the years, we have learned to ask for "message" numbers. Sometimes it's a grandma, or a mother at work, or in one case the fiance of someone's brother. I think I was able to reach just one or two students on my first try. However, within a half hour, I received four returned calls with someone asking, "Did you call this number?" Two of the students are just 16. I know I talked to at least two mothers.
My cell phone was not giving good reception so I unlocked the front door and stepped out on the sidewalk. Immediately I was asked by a passer-by if the church that owns our building had any clothing to give away. "I've just gotten out of jail and I have no clothes. I need a hoodie or sweatshirt." I said that there were no clothes there and suggested Hope Ministries or the Salvation Army--both of which I guess said they could see him next week. Another pedestrian appeared and offered to take him to Goodwill. That was a good thing because I was quite unsure of what else to recommend. I could have given him a few dollars to buy something at Goodwill.
In any case, it's a good idea to keep our building doors locked. So that was my first day preparing for my new class. In two ways, I encountered the poverty that is not a part of my life over the summer in my comfortable neighborhood.
I made phone calls to potential students. I had a stack of student files from orientation and from last years' class. As always, I hit dead ends. "This number is no longer in service" was a phrase I heard at least four times out of the ten calls I made. Over the years, we have learned to ask for "message" numbers. Sometimes it's a grandma, or a mother at work, or in one case the fiance of someone's brother. I think I was able to reach just one or two students on my first try. However, within a half hour, I received four returned calls with someone asking, "Did you call this number?" Two of the students are just 16. I know I talked to at least two mothers.
My cell phone was not giving good reception so I unlocked the front door and stepped out on the sidewalk. Immediately I was asked by a passer-by if the church that owns our building had any clothing to give away. "I've just gotten out of jail and I have no clothes. I need a hoodie or sweatshirt." I said that there were no clothes there and suggested Hope Ministries or the Salvation Army--both of which I guess said they could see him next week. Another pedestrian appeared and offered to take him to Goodwill. That was a good thing because I was quite unsure of what else to recommend. I could have given him a few dollars to buy something at Goodwill.
In any case, it's a good idea to keep our building doors locked. So that was my first day preparing for my new class. In two ways, I encountered the poverty that is not a part of my life over the summer in my comfortable neighborhood.
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