It’s been almost two weeks since my arrival in the Mississippi Delta. I’m currently residing on the campus of Delta State University. Imagine being surrounded by hundreds of your most smartest and accomplished friends. Yeah, that’s me right now. I’ve met some pretty amazing and incredible people, all of whom have a passion to change the lives of those who experience the injustice of unequal access to a quality education. Geez! My mind is overwhelmed with emotions and feelings right now, so I thought I’d bring my thoughts to the place I imagined would be most tolerant of these thoughts: LoveFran.com.

What everyday looks like:
4:00am: Wake up.
Breakfast and lunch pick-up somewhere in between wake up and last call.
5:55am: Last call for the bus.
6:00am – 7:00am ish: An hour or so of nothing but bus.
8:00am – 12:45pm: Teaching my 26 beautiful entering 9th grade babies and daily sessions.
1:00pm – 4:30pm: Lunch, sessions, structured work time.
4:30pm – 5:45pm: Bus ride home.
6:00pm – 7:00pm: Dinner.
7:15pm – until: Lesson planning, collaborative meetings, sessions, print lab, copy room, music, sleep (occasionally).
Repeat.

My favorite things about Institute (so far):

• My 26 beautiful babies.
• I’m teaching again.
• I get to share this experience with my best friend, Crystalline, who is going to be an amazing science teacher.
• Copy room from 9:00pm – 11:00pm (I think). They play nothing but 90s music. I went in one night and heard a Blackstreet song followed by a Backstreet Boys song. Heaven.
• The aggressive mentality of those around me to change the freaking world.
• The energy of all the staff at Green/McNair. That’s my school site by the way.
• My CMA group.
• The Delta communities.

My not so favorite things about Institute (so far):

• The thought of having to leave the 26 in only a few more weeks.
• Mosquitoes.
• The humidity. Yep, I’ve only straightened my hair once since I’ve been here.
• 4:00am wake-up. Not the least bit my friend.
• Dinning Halls closing early. The University of Alabama spoiled me rotten.

As far as my classroom goes, if you missed the memo, I’m currently teaching 26 brilliant entering 9th grade kids who come from all over the Delta. I met them for the first time this past Monday and my goodness, they’ve blown me away. Friday, we completed a short story entitled “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl who also authored Matilda and James and the Giant Peach. This text is for you if you’re looking for a text to: A) read because you haven’t had a good read lately, B) help foster a love for reading in your kids, or C) teach inference skills, irony, dramatic irony, or characterization. Thank me later. Well, anywho, more post to come about my experience so far. Hope you’ve enjoyed this one.

Sorry about the blurry photo.