Guests from Kazakhstan

I'm hosting a couple of Kazakhs that I met through CouchSurfing for a couple of days while they get settled in Los Angeles.

I thought that they were just here to hang out and see LA, but when I picked them up and asked them what they wanted to do, they told me that they wanted to find an apartment and start working to get rich in America. One of them left Kazakhstan and didn't bother to tell his family that he wasn't planning on going back if everything worked out. His dream was to come to America, go to UCLA or USC or CSULA or some university and play American football.

Honestly, I didn't know what to say to him. I thought he had literally brought a backpack to LA and was going to try to make everything work before his visa expired. He said he would just get it transfered to a student visa, but I knew that he still had to take tests and the timing wouldn't work because no one is accepting until next year. It sounded absolutely crazy.

They were so excited to be in Los Angeles, and kept talking about how much everyone wanted to be in America. It was incredibly eye-opening to see and hear someone talk about this country like that, especially since everywhere I turn I only hear about how this place is falling apart. Still, he told me that he isn't worried because they work hard, and "we will be okay." That kind of optimism is inspiring, and I realized that it is something I have a hard time finding now.

The most jarring part of the evening, though, came during dinner at Denny's (if my uncle is reading this, he will find their choice of "American" cuisine funny). The two of them had been talking wide-eyed about all the things they wanted to do in this country, and how great it was for them to be here now. One of them turned to me and asked, "What is your dream?" That's when I realized that I couldn't answer. "But everyone needs to have a dream." I really didn't know.

What does that mean for me? Do I really have no dreams anymore? Am I wandering through life without knowing where I am or where I'm going? Or, am I on the way to my dream already and waiting for it to start in a few weeks? Am I just waiting for life to give me some answers? Not knowing what it is worries me just a little bit.

We went out today to look for an apartment (mission accomplished), car (what a ridiculous adventure, but still looking), and jobs for the two Kazakhs. I'll give them the information for SAT and TOEFL test dates, college application deadlines, bus schedules, and help point them in the right direction. They have about $1,000, a couple of friends, and a sense of adventure. But most importantly, they also have a dream.

I wonder if I could ever be that brave. Maybe I should be, or maybe I kind of am but just don't believe it. In any case, just like the Kazakhs, who I might not ever see again after tomorrow, I have a feeling that "we will be okay."

What a Difference a Day Makes...

I taught another lesson on Friday (on charts, tallies, data, and outcomes), and it was SO much better.

A lot of the problems I had Tuesday got fixed, although there was a lot more sitting around for the students. The big difference between the two teachers, though, was that the first one wanted me to follow the book, while the other one let me do what I wanted as long as I got the point of the lesson across.

Maybe that was the problem the first time. I tried to tie the book in with what I thought the students would understand, and it came out all confusing and inefficient. So, then, what is the correct balance, or what should I do next time this happens?

Still so much to learn!

Teaching for the First Time

That was frightening.

I didn't recap well, and forgot to check for understanding. I didn't do a great job of teaching conversions, and didn't emphasize comparisons. Also, the beginning activity was hard to lead and I was kind of floundering along with the comparison to standard units. Lastly, I'm not sure that they really understood the vocabulary of the lesson and the abbreviations.

I have a lot of work to do.

By the way, it is extremely difficult to figure out how quickly to move when there are so many different skill levels in one classroom. And classroom management is really, really tricky.

They're really going to give me a classroom of my own? SERIOUSLY?

More Adventures in Maturity

A third grade girl asked me today, "Why do you act like an elementary school kid?"
-"What?"
-"You act like an elementary school kid! You play all the games with us!"
-"So? I like the games. And I can be serious sometimes."
-"No, I don't like that. You have a lot of humor. I'm going to call you Elementary School Kid from now on."
-"I like Mr. Lyu."
-"No, Elementary School Kid."
-"Fine," I say as I catch the basketball from another student. "If I make this shot you're all going to be my best friends forever!" Brick.
-"Never mind, you're going to be Uncool Elementary School Kid."
-"OK."

I'm supposed to be teaching their class about meters and kilometers tomorrow (Yeah, their teacher is trusting me to teach an actual lesson!). They all seem pretty excited. I hope I don't blow it. Otherwise, I'll be Super-Uncool Elementary School Kid.

Things That are Better-Written Than This Blog

Here are some interesting articles about teaching and education that have come out recently (or kind of recently):

• "I Am Not a Babysitter" by Heather Robinson in Newsweek (October 11, 2008)
• "What Makes a Great Teacher?" by Amanda Ripley in The Atlantic (January/February 2010)
• "Building a Better Teacher" by Elizabeth Green in The New York Times Magazine (March 2, 2010) 
• "Why We Must Fire Bad Teachers" by Evan Thomas and Pat Wingert in Newsweek (March 6, 2010)
• "Bad Teachers: Reform Them or Retire Them?" by Elizabeth Green and Evan Thomas in Newsweek (March 10, 2010)
• This article is a debate between the authors of "Building a Better Teacher" and "Why We Must Fire Bad Teachers."
• "The Patron Saint (and Scourge) of Lost Schools" by Jeff Coplon in New York Magazine (April 25, 2010)

Enjoy! Happy thinking!

Test Time!

All if the teachers are spending a couple hours each day going over
past end-of-year exams. It's kind of boring (and by "kind of" I mean
"really, extremely" boring). This is the downside of standardized
testing... I can only imagine how much worse it is at low-income
schools.