Oh, Socrates

Yesterday in my education class we learned about the different philosophies of education. Overall, not very interesting but good to know. We also had an older Teaching Fellow come in class to discuss a program he started that helps support nearby Native American communities. Got to represent my people!

I also start AVID tomorrow. The program allows one on one tutoring for students who are not necessarily doing bad in school but could use some extra help. Wish me luck!

"I'm Lovin' It"

As a Teching Fellow, you are required to perform at least 5 hours of community service a semester. Compared to my high school requirements (30+ hours!) this is a breeze. So today I got a head start on my volunteer work by helping out at the Ronald McDonald House.

Ronald McDonald House is an organization that provides the family of patients in hospitals with a place to stay for a very low cost( about $10 a night). The Chapel Hill house is very nice, and it sits back off the main road surrounded by trees...but the Ronald McDonald statues do knod of freak me out a little bit.

At the house, the other Teaching Fellow volunteers and I were asked to move the items from two of the sheds out back into the designated rooms inside the house. The work wasn't that hard and didn't take too long as we had carts (using the old "bucket passing" system worked really well too).

It was a great experience to donate my time to such a good cause, and I reccommend everyone to do it...you may even get free drinks and a T shirt like I did! Just make sure to say hi to Mable the dog on your way in!

And I Thought I was Done with High School

This morning, I embarked on my great tutoring adventure. I should have known it was going to be a rough day when I didn't even know which school I was going to until 9 o'clock last night, but I was determined to make it work. I walked out of my dorm to find the bus stop where I would pick up the U...to take me to another bus stop where I would pick up the J which would take me to the high school I would be tutoring at (hopefully). It was only after I walked halfway down the street that I realized online bus schedules cannot and should not be trusted...there was no bus stop. Already bitter, I decided to walk to the second bus stop to pick up the J. Along the way, I ran into some other TFs ( thank goodness!) who were also trying to find a bus. They were going to a different school but taking the same route so I decided to tag along. Bad idea. After waiting for said bus to come, the driver told me that he wouldn't be able to take me to my destination. Thankfully, he kindly dropped me off at a third bus stop where I would definitely be able to pick up the J route. I was so relieved to finally be on the right track...until it started raining...while I was in my dress clothes. Way to make a first impression, Amanda! Luckily the bus came before things got really bad, and I finally arrived at the school where my first day jitters really took over.

After the sweet ladies in the office told me the correct room number, I set off around the school hoping to find it. Luckily, I only had to walk around in a circle twice. When I got to the classroom, I noticed that there was another TF observing...we were placed in the same class! Confusing as it might of been, having her in there with me really calmed my nerves. After the teacher got the class going on a British political party project (the class was AP Comparative Government...I've never even heard of that!), she came over to discuss what we'd be doing. Unfortunately, she had no idea why we were really there...it was so organized. After talking, she referred my fellow TF to another teacher, and since I have Thursday afternoons off, she recommended that I take part in her AVID class. Didn't sign up for that, but at least I've got a plan! Overall, she was nice and seemed genuinely enthusiastic about the subject. I just wish she would have introduced me to the class somewhat. It's really awkward to have 30 kids staring at you out of the corner of their eyes while you sit in the back of the room taking notes about them. It's even worse when you're the same age...

Waiting, waiting, waiting...

During my Education 121 class on Tuesday, two representatives from the Carborro School System visited to discuss what to expect during our upcoming tutoring sessions. While they were there, the ladies gave each of the Teaching Fellows a volunteer packet (survival guide if you wish). Each of these packets included an introduction to the volunteer program, a map with the location of each of the 16 schools in relation to UNC (thank goodness), a personal information sheet (background check anyone?), and a name tag to wear to each tutoring session. To be honest, I am a little apprehensive about wearing the name tag. I will no longer be referred to as Amanda, but I was told by my professor that I must introduce myself as Miss Stapleton to ensure a level of respect. I can already predict that I will forget to answer to that name for the first couple of weeks. "Is my mom here?" is more likely to be my initial response. Albeit, I really am looking forward to my first day of the program. Hopefully my stage fright won't be too unbearable!

I might be excited to get started, but I still haven't gotten my tutoring placement yet! My first day is Tuesday, and I don't even know where I'm going! So much for testing the bus route before the big day...looks like I'll just be jumping in blindly. My director did sent me an email last night of a list with five possible social studies teachers to get in touch with. Looks like I'll be begging for my first position. All I hope is that someone responds in time. If not, it looks like I'll be taking a nice little bus ride to no where.

Teaching Fellows "Bonding" Camp

So this past Saturday all freshman Carolina teaching fellows were required to participate in a ropes course sponsored by the campus rec. I was super excited and really looking forward to riding zip lines, climbing trees, and what not...until we started. Evidently ropes courses don't always involve ropes (people really should clarify that). So my Saturday morning consisted of waking up earlier than I do to go to class to play some playground games. Don't get me wrong, I love dodge ball. Just not at 8 o'clock in the morning. All in all, I ended up having a great time getting to know the people who will be going through the same stresses that teaching brings with me! Elves, wizards, and giants is definitely the new rock, paper, scissors! I love my new teaching fellows family, but I can't wait until tutoring starts next week...that is if I can get there (these bus systems are killer)!