Field+Experience+Journal+1

My field experience is really interesting this far. I have four 10th grade English classes and one 7th grade English class which require much attention. The students are great kids, however, the system has FAILED most of them. It is sad to say it but I think our teachers are passing on students when they know they are not succeeding. As a teacher, I can see how these kids interact with each other on a day to day basis. Mr. Lewis is an exceptional human being. I can see in his eyes and in his heart how much he wants CHANGE for not only these kids, but for the upcoming kids.

I actually spend the entire day (Monday of each week) at the school, including 8th period. I know Dr. Sherry does not require the full day, but I find this to be the heart of LEARNING for us as upcoming teachers. This should be the MAIN focus for this course. I really urge more teachers to take advantage and get into the classroom more. I teach everytime I am in the classroom and Mr. Lewis makes me feel as though I am a real faculty member. I was unexpectedly thrown into the classroom for the entire day at the end of September and now I cannot leave! The kids all speak to me and find interest in me. Mr. Lewis knows I can help as he can help me too! We feed off of each other.

For my first lesson, we discussed formal versus informal writing. I had the students write a letter to me about where there wanted to be in a few years and what they thought of when they heard the word "respect." I have over 100 papers to respond to and I am starting to see how the time can really be hard for teachers. Mr. Lewis said I was going to get a real good taste of the everyday life as a teacher and I believe that to be true. After reading and responding to some of their responses, I see the need for writing! Their writing is not the best and in fact, it is nowhere near what it should be. Almost all the kids in a college prep course have an IEP and their writing is beyond sufficient. I think many of these kids are unknowingly being passed when they should not be at the level they are placed in. Of course I want my students to be in a college track, but how can I teach them when they do not even know the fundamentals of basic grammar?

I have many students who are parents, drug dealers, recently out from detainment, and many more unfortunate positions. There is this new "world" within the generation of kids at the high school level (probably in every level). The language within their cliques is sometimes humorous but incomprehensible. They loved my lesson because they were able to teach me some of their slang such as "what's gucci??" or "yo dig???" and I was able to teach them the way we formally should speak. Dr. Sherry gave me great advice and I took it! I told them there is nothing wrong with informal writing/speech, but it is when we must know WHEN formal supercedes our everyday terms. I said to them that I was the dean of their new college or the CEO of the new company they work for... how would you greet me? What would you say?? This is how we must think when we write because it is a time to be formal for Mr. Lewis and myself. The students can see my point and understood the idea of why standard English was important because in the long run they will need to know it.

I am thinking of having the students do a journal? I can repsond to each of their writings and it will keep them in connection with me. I have students who are planning to drop out after December... what more can someone do when all their life they have been pushed through the system or have failed it? I think writing is the most important tool for them because everyone has their own story. They may not want to read the literature in class, but they will definitely want to tell their own story. They want me to stay after December. Mr. Lewis has me involved with his program with the other faculty members. Teachers who volunteer help students who are failing 3 or more classes and they act as their "parent" in a way. They figure if these kids are failing more than 3 classes then there is no one to check up on them. This is what teaching is about... kids who need someone who actually cares. I have seen the teachers who do not... but I refuse to give up.