Field Trip Day!

     Yesterday, my class went on a field trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo. The kids had an awesome time and I think they learned some new animal facts, too! There were some behavior problems, though overall the kids were enjoying their trip. I'm not sure if the students were rowdy because it was a summer school field trip or they just have a lot of energy stored up, but they were running around the zoo like crazy! It was a very stressful day, but I knew that they were just kids being kids, and they don't always have the opportunity to go on cool field trips, especially during summer school.

Although it was super stressful, I had a great time, and I think that if I had more time with the students, they might be less wound up if we were able to go on another trip. I only have four more days left to teach at Westcott, and I am really going to miss my students! They give me a hard time, but they also want to learn just like any other kids do. I've only been at this school for a few weeks, and already the students see me as someone they can trust. It's such a rewarding feeling to know that in some, small way, I will have left an imprint on these students' lives. On the bus, I was able to sit and talk with students I did not always have the chance to speak with in the classroom setting, which was really cool because I was able to make connections with them on a more personal level. They told me about where they like to visit in the city and what music they listen to. For me, teaching goes beyond just working with the students in the classroom. I find that an effective teacher is someone who can connect with students on a personal level while also earning the respect of her students in the instructional setting. Students need a teacher they know will support them and be a resource for them even after they leave the class and move on to another grade, and that is the kind of teacher that I aspire to be.




In the end, I know that these students will have learned something during their time at summer school, and it might take more than five weeks for these students to "catch up" to their peers, but at least they know that there are teachers who care about them as learners and are there to support them throughout their academic careers. Working at Westcott has taught me a lot about what my strengths and weaknesses are as a teacher, and I've learned about what methods I want to use in my future classroom. I'm so excited to start teaching kindergarten in the fall, and I am eager to continue my career with Chicago Public Schools. 

Westcott Elementary School

This summer, I am teaching third grade at Westcott Elementary School. I am working in the summer bridge program, the students in this program have just finished third grade and need to complete summer school so that they can attend fourth grade. For some student, they are here because they had too many absences while others are struggling in school and their test scores were too low for them to advance to the next grade. Because Westcott is a neighborhood school, during the school year many students attend other schools (charter, magnet, etc.); but for summer school, all students attend the school closest to them because every CPS school works with the same curriculum for the summer.

When I walk to this school, before even entering the building, there are already obvious differences between Westcott and most of the elementary schools in my hometown, Vernon Hills. One of the first things I’ve noticed is the proximity of schools in my hometown compared to how many and how far apart the schools are from one another. Westcott is a Pre-K – 8^th grade school, while the schools I attended were K – 5 and 6 – 8 grade schools. The schools in my hometown even appeared to be larger than Westcott although they cover a smaller range of grade levels. A few other notable differences were parking lot and playground size, which was not too surprising for me only because city space is harder to come by than suburb space.

When thinking about the differences between the two schools, I wonder how this affects the students attending these schools. Looking at demographics of the two schools, there are obvious differences and these are just based on the different locations of the two schools. The test scores of the two schools are very different as well, and I would attribute that to a number of reasons. The environments surrounding the schools are very different, as are the funding that these two schools receive. Suburban schools and CPS schools follow different types of curriculums, and this does affect the way students learn and how they score on standardized testing.

Environment plays a major role in student ability and education; students’ ability to succeed in school is affected by the life they have outside of school. If students are constantly exposed to negative environmental factors and are unable to see themselves moving forward with their education, they become products of what is called the “self-fulfilling prophesy.” If a student hears a stereotype or comment about themselves enough times, they will be more likely to fulfill this stereotype and become what people expect them to. Depending on the people students associate inside and outside the classroom shape the way they view the world and the area they live in. The more positive influences a student has, the more likely they will be to succeed. Working at Westcott has taught me that students respond to authority in different ways, and entering a new school and a new classroom takes some getting used to. Student will not automatically accept you as the authority figure simply because you’re there, you need to earn your respect. After working at Westcott for a week and a half, my students are finally starting to see me as a constant authority figure in the room, and they are seeing me as a teacher rather than just a classroom helper. It’s been difficult adjusting to the new environment, but I feel this is one of the most valuable teaching experiences I will have because I am experiencing what it feels like to teach in an unfamiliar setting. These experiences will help me continue to shape my teaching styles and apply what works to my future students.  I have really enjoyed my time, good and bad, so far, and I am eager to continue working and watching how my students develop over the next few weeks.

Our New Puppy, Rio!

Friendships with Fellows

One of the great things about this experience aside from the teaching and the courses is the friendships that are made along the way. I've only been here for a week, and already it feels like I have been working with everyone for months. This experience makes me remember why I want to be a teacher, and it helps me to remember that there are so many people passionate about working in an area that is constantly changing and adapting to new norms. I'm so excited to continue working in Chicago and continue to meet new people along the way. I could not have asked for a better group of coworkers. I am so happy with my cohort, and I am confident that when we leave this program, we will have experiences that will stay with us throughout our teaching careers. I cannot believe how fast time flies, and working with such great people makes the long days and meetings exciting and engaging. I am so grateful to be part of such an incredible organization, and I am happy that I have had the privilege of working with such an awesome group!

This morning, we played kickball with all of the other neighborhoods and staff. This was a really cool bonding experience, and it gave us all a chance to work with one another outside of the classes and professional experience. The game was all in good fun, and for a while, I forgot about all the negativity that surrounds many of the Chicago neighborhoods. For those few hours, we were just playing kickball at the park, we weren't in a "dangerous" neighborhood, we weren't uncomfortable. The park itself was really nice, having such vast amounts of green space in the city is not the most common, and the park was filled with walkers, runners, bikers; the happy faces just showed me that there is so much more to this city than people realize. So often, when people hear the term Chicago, they think of downtown and the loop area, people don't always visualize the communities or neighborhoods that make up the city. This experience has showed me there are so many great areas of the city I would have never known existed today had I not been given this opportunity. Our kickball game was in Little Village, predominately hispanic community. This area was filled with beautiful artwork, local shops, and vendors throughout the streets. I loved how welcoming everything appeared to be, and this part of Chicago is something I would never have ventured off to on any other typical day. I think in order to truly understand Chicago culture, it is important to be well informed about the different demographics and neighborhoods that exist. Visiting different neighborhoods and schools has given me the opportunity to see some of the character that exists in the city, and I never would have imagined the city is as diverse as it is. Stepping outside my comfort zone has given me the chance to see what Chicago truly has to offer, and I have a much better idea of what my teaching experience will look like.

STEP UP!

     This summer, I am participating in a fellowship program called STEP UP. For this program, I am living with a host family in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood of Chicago. Auburn Gresham is a predominately black neighborhood, so being Caucasian, I'd say that my coworkers and I are pretty easy to spot. During the program, we all teach summer school in the morning, work at a local community organization in the afternoon, and participate in classes and other activities during the evenings and on the weekends.

       I am teaching the third grade summer bridge program at Westcott Elementary school, and in the afternoons I am working for the Greater Auburn Gresham Corporation, with the Neighborhood Development Corporation. I contact local small business owners and try to engage them in some of the GAGDC programs and set up interviews with them.

       This program is designed to create a unique experience that allows us to make connections within the community we are living and working in. Living in Auburn Gresham is so unlike anything you'll find in the suburbs. Being from Vernon Hills, I can see just how different the two lifestyles are despite their proximity to one another. Traveling just 40 miles south, I've been introduced to a completely different lifestyle. The people in Auburn Gresham form somewhat of a family, the people look out for one another and have created their own unique community. However, Auburn Gresham still has its problems. At home, I walk around any time of the day without a care, and I have access to just about any type of food product, type of clothing, or other everyday item within about a five mile radius. Auburn Gresham has a few food vendors, most of which are fried food or southern style food, a Walgreens and a CVS, and a few gas stations. There are not many options when shopping for fresh food or produce, clothing, or basic household items. Many of the buildings appear abandoned or are boarded up, and those that are not appear old or run down.

       The GAGDC has a number of amazing programs that are working to lift morale and improve the area, but it appears that this neighborhood is almost frozen in time. I cannot imagine growing up in a town with so few resources and programs. There are almost no programs for children to participate in outside of school and during s summers, and I feel that this contributes to some of the other problems that exist in the area. Being one of Chicago's south neighbors, the area is accompanied with numerous negative stereotypes and violence problems. I am not going to deny that this community is scotch free when it comes to violence, but this is not a war zone as many people might think. Yes, there are gangs here; but no, I am not in direct danger. Gangs are groups that participate in organized crime, and I myself am not part of a gang or any other group that poses a threat to gangs in the area; which means I am not a target for any of the gangs or groups in this area. I don't walk around alone, and I don't take nightly strolls with friends. I have taken the necessary precautions to ensure my safety, but overall this area is not as scary as people might think. Yes, I do feel out of place and sometimes hesitant, but nobody has abruptly come up to me or made me personally feel threatened.

        The street that I live on along with other fellows in the program is made up of beautiful, nineteenth century brick houses. There are a mix of two-flats and single family homes. The houses have so much charm and character, and it's sad to see that such charming areas are virtually invisible to the rest of Chicago simply because the area has a negative stigma attached to it. I believe that if the GAGDC and other organizations keeps working, eventually, conditions in the area will start to improve. If people could look past their stereotypes and fears, they would find that Auburn Gresham is just another community with normal families who want the best for their children. I think that in a few years, Auburn Gresham could blossom into a safer and more inviting area to outsiders. With the right investments, time, and care, this community could turn into a more positive area and possibly attract more outsiders to come by and visit. My hope is that one day, Auburn Gresham appears to be as lively as some of Chicago's other neighborhoods and that visitors can see the character and community atmosphere that exists in Auburn Gresham.