Week 1- January 12-16
As my first week of student teaching comes to a close, I have a few observations to make. To begin I will say I am enjoying my placement. This is certainly a different environment from where I was in the fall. This school (a high school in NE DC) represents much more closely what I expected to find in an inner-city, public school- the teachers a frustrated, the kids are under-preforming, the principal seems enthusiastic, but unrealistic, etc, etc. I should mention that this is one of the better schools in the district. I can only imagine what schools like Anacostia look like in comparison. I'm sure more detailed information regarding the school structure will come out in later postings.

TFA Connection:
I have met several TFAs during this first week. They are all nice enough, and they all certainly have the characteristic vigor they were required to have when chosen for the placement. My concerns focus on another aspect. There is always the age question. These kids (I can say that because I am now officially older than most TFAs) come across as just that: kids. They dress like the students, speak like the students, and act like the students. Their professionalism is lacking to say the least. Sure they are an idealistic bunch, but I have a hard time telling them apart from the juniors or seniors in my classes. My second concern stems from this lack of professionalism. These teachers seem so unprepared. In fact when I spoke with one of them candidly about her experience she offered that she felt unprepared for the job she is doing. How can this be? Her six weeks of training did not offer enough guidance and advice for life as a teacher in an inner-city school? Shocking.

In the following weeks I will include more specific stories about what I am finding at this school as well as regarding the TFAs. Hopefully at the end of these 15 weeks, I will have some concrete answers about the TFA quesiton.