Homework Post - SED 406 HW 4 - What were your original expectations of Central Falls High School?

One of the courses I am taking this semester, SED 406: Instructional Methods, Design, and Technology, meets at Central Falls High School. As a homework assignment for this course, I have been asked to write a blog post considering what my expectations of the school were before spending time there. Central Falls has a bad reputation in Rhode Island and I had this vague and unsubstantiated understanding that Central Falls schools are the “worst” in the state. So, what were my expectations?

Based on the little I know of the Central Falls community, I was expecting the student body to be diverse, to have a high percentage of minority and ESL students. I was expecting the hallways to be loud and chaotic, not in a threatening way, but in a lively though possibly overwhelming way. I was expecting urban students, in the sense of how they dress and talk and carry themselves – a style and toughness that I appreciate. I was expecting that there might be many students at CFHS that struggle with school because they have a lot to deal with in their personal lives. I was expecting that many of the students come from poor families. I was expecting that while there might be some students who are disillusioned with or disinterested in school, that there would be a more general sense of hope and a strong work ethic, a pride in achievement and a drive for advancement. But while I was expecting the reality of their situations to have some impact on the students at CFHS, I was also just expecting kids – young individuals much like kids anywhere. And of course, I am speaking in generalizations – I do not expect that there is just one type of kid at CFHS.

I was expecting the teachers to be mostly white, as I understand that while student diversity is growing, teacher diversity is not. I was expecting that for the most part the teachers would be young and motivated, dedicated and passionate, but maybe also a little tired and frustrated (though hopefully not in the first week of school!). I was expecting tough love between the teachers and the students, maybe a hard-won mutual respect. I was expecting rules and a strong authority of the administration and teachers, but also a respect for the voice of the students.

I was expecting the school to be outdated, maybe even a little drab underneath, but dressed up by the life happening in it – but certainly not fancy and shiny and new. I was expecting a lack of resources and a need for updated technology. I was expecting crowded classrooms and teachers stretched a little thin.

Hmmm… sorry for all the “I was expectings”… writing it out, it all sounds a bit naive – honestly, I am also expecting to be surprised. I am really looking forward to getting to know the school and its people and to have the opportunity to learn about teaching in a real live high school.

First Post!

Quick first post because I have lots of homework to do (including posting to this blog actually, but with an assigned topic)...

I am newly enrolled in the Rhode Island Teacher Educate program at Rhode Island College (RITE at RIC) and I've been asked to start a teaching blog for two of my classes - so there will be posts here that are assigned, but also maybe I'll post of my own free will - though we all know (and by we, I mean me) how often (not) I posted to the personal blog I started a few years ago when I was in Iowa missing the ocean...

It's the third week of the Fall 2014 semester and it's been a whirlwind for me - I didn't actually know I was in the RITE program until the second day of classes. So I got a rushed start and I'm still feeling like I'm getting caught up - and I generally like to be ahead of the game, so feeling behind makes me a bit anxious. On top of that, it's been a long time since I was last in school (plus, I watch way too much TV so my brain's a little mushy - it's good to have so much reading to do to get that muscle strong again) and for the past five years I had a professional job in which I had a lot of responsibility and I was good at what I did and people respected me - I'm trying to avoid saying I was the "big guy on campus" because it wasn't like that, but I did have some authority and I felt confident and proud of my position - and now I'm feeling kinda like an 8th grader on the first day of 9th grade, a little off my game.

But day by day I'm finding my footing and when I have a chance to stop and reflect, I am really glad to be in the RITE program. I could go on and on here about what a teaching career means to me, why I left my old job, how much I love science and education and working with young people... but, again, that homework is calling - that's for another blog post. But what I do want to say is that while I have always felt that I have a natural ability for teaching, I am so glad to be getting some training. Sure, I could have been thrown into a classroom and probably not been terrible... but I want to be great. And so far I am loving my classes, the things I am reading and learning, the discussions I am having - just being in the culture of teachers and thinking about teaching in a more meaningful way. I'm kinda geeking out about it all.

Which brings me to the name of my teaching blog. I thought about it for the last couple days and asked my friends for suggestions (most of which were hilarious but totally NSFW). I wanted something professional and meaningful but also a little light and not too obvious or boring but also not too heavy-handed... not sure I actually accomplished any of that but I like where I ended up. (Side note to the other person on Blogger who already has a blog of the same name - sorry, but you don't have any posts so I thought it was no big deal - plus, yours is a question and mine is a statement - so, totally different.) So You Think You Can Teach. Because I think I can... but I'm about to go deep and really find out.