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Be Teachable

The Agenda Update:
I can't get over how welcoming the people of the Delta have been to me and my fellow TFA Corps Members. On Friday night, the people of Cleveland threw us a very nice welcoming party. Complete with great food and lemonade served in mason jars. It was great getting to know some of the community members and to know that they're excited that we're here.

Saturday, I went on an excursion to a couple of cities in the Delta- Leland and Greenville. Leland has, what has been one of my favorite things so far: The Birthplace of the Frog, an Exhibit of Jim Henson's Delta Boyhood. It was so neat to see some of the history and story behind Jim Henson and Kermit. In Greenville, we visited the 1927 Flood Museum. Read the story here. It was fascinating to see this piece of history (also fascinating to reflect on that visit today as it rained and rained and rained- I thought we were going to have to seek high ground on the levy). We also went to an Art Gallery and Craftporium (fun word!) in Greenville and got to make Ice Candles. Such a fun activity! Something I can recreate with my students in the future!
Kermit the Frog and I 

A replica of the first scene ever of The Muppet Show

The original Kermit (handmade by Jim) and the Muppet-ized version

I made a candle at the craftorium...it looks messed up but it's supposed to look like that- I promise!


Sunday was one of the hardest days yet. I miss my home church in McDonough so much I can hardly stand it. Of course I miss the people I served with, the kids, the students. But I also miss the worship and service style. Literally, I miss everything about it. I visited a church Sunday morning, and it was okay- the people were super nice but I don't think it's the place for me. I knew finding a church was going to be one of the hardest parts about moving to the Delta. I'm going to continue to visit churches in Cleveland for the summer but I've almost come to the conclusion that, when I find a permanent home, I will stream my home church live and then get involved in a church in the community where I'll be teaching, even if it's not exactly what I'm looking for style-wise. This will allow me to create an even better connection with my kids and their families. I really believe that will allow me to have an even greater impact.


Now for the Deeper Stuff:
One of the best pieces of professional/leadership/life advice I've ever been given is to always be teachable. It's so important to stay humble and know that you never know everything. Doing Teach for America is an extremely humbling experience. People graduate college after taking at least a year of classes teaching them how to teach. And then between a semester and a year student teaching. Well, I've got 4 weeks of summer school. 

I can quickly find myself getting overwhelmed with the thought: How am I possibly going to learn everything that I need to learn in 4 short weeks? The answer is simple: I won't. The fact of the matter is, every single teacher, TFA or otherwise has a first year. And I have a feeling that every teacher's first year is at least a little crazy. I believe the degree of success I have in my classroom is going to hinge on whether or not I am teachable. Whether or not I am humble enough to seek the help from my peers and veteran teachers. I plan to take full advantage of these resources because in order for my kids to succeed, I have to be the best teacher I can be. And in order to do that, I have to be teachable.

The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.
Proverbs 15:31-32


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