Home for Thanksgiving...

I arrived in Minnesota on Saturday... it is really nice to be back. The weather is actually relatively close to the same here as it was in Houston when I left (around 50-60 degrees and drizzly). The break couldn't have come at a better time. The last few weeks have been very hectic and busy to say the least...

I was asked recently by the head wrestling coach at Sam Houston High School (Sam Houston Math, Science & Technology Center) to help coach there high school team recently. In 2007, John Hopkins University reffered to Sam Houston as a "dropout factory" where at least 40% of the entering freshman class does not make it to their senior year. Needless to say, "Sam" is a rough place, where I will hopefully be able to impact a few students' lives through my presence at their coach and encouragement on and off the mat.

Despite already being very busy (sometimes to the point of being overwhelmed), I accepted the offer and began coaching both the boys and girls varsity and junior varsity teams on a daily basis (Yes you read that right, they do have girls varsity wrestling in Texas - it is separate from the boys wrestling team). Wrestling is a little different in Texas than what I am used to. I feel it is less intense and of a lower quality than wrestling in Minnesota, especially the team I participated on in high school. Most of the wrestlers do not start until 9th grade so their experience definitely limits even the good wrestlers on most teams.

The teams I am currently coaching remind me a lot of the team I coached in Saint Paul that helped to spur this entire journey. There are a few committed guys and girls that are there everyday, but for the most part, participation varies due to other commitments, such as having to work after school or on the weekends to help make ends meet. I really like being back with the sport of wrestling and feel that through coaching I will be able to impact these students' lives as well.

I forgot how much I enjoy coaching, and even though we are currently loosing more than we are winning, I am having a good time and I think the wrestlers are too.

I know that very few, if any, of my wrestlers will go on to wrestle after high school, but for many of them wrestling is a release and a chance to learn a lot of important life skills. Currently, I am working with the team on the importance of "showing up," whether it is in wrestling or in life, it is really hard to win (or succeed) if you don't show up. We will be setting personal goals shortly with regards to attendance at practice and school.

BACK AT BERRY...
Things are actually going a little better. My classroom management has really improved over the past few weeks. All of my students that were suspended are back in the classroom now (well all but the two long-term suspensions) and they are a little better behaved. Although things are not perfect, and many students still need reminders, we are on our way to having a well run and efficient classroom, where behavior does not slow down our ability to learn.

On a more negative note, on of my students who I have been struggling to try and get to come to school has not been at school at all in November and I was told on Thursday that she will not be coming back. Her mother, who I do not believe has completed high school herself, will be homeschooling here. This is a blow to my moral, as this student had a lot of potential and was a good learner. I feel that she will continue to get further and further behind at home and eventually drop out when she is old enough. I know this is negative, but from what I am told... this is "usually what happens."

My students are still struggling in almost all content areas, and sometimes it seems that regardless of the amount of time I spend on a topic or how many different modalities I show it in... the students still do not understand or grasp the concept. On our last math assessment I put all of the steps on how to solve the problems on the board, including various math strategies they could use on the test. Despite my best effort (and doing everything but giving the students the answers) my class still only had a class average of 63%. I am not sure what to do or how to change my instruction, but I do not think this is acceptable.

I am going to be meeting with my mentor and my TFA program director next week and will hopefully have answers and ideas on how to do a more effective job teaching (and reteaching).

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!

Looking back on my experiences thus far with Teach For America and my time in Houston it is easy to think of many things that I am thankful for...