Shout Out to All the Math Teachers!

My emphasis while completing my degree in education will be in mathematics. This will enable me to move on to higher grades if I desire later in my career. The reason that this is my most favorable area of study is because THERE IS A RIGHT ANSWER! I love to know that I am right. Right now while teaching art it is really making me go outside of my OCD self and see that it is okay to explore, experiment, not have the right answer, interpret, etc... I needed this experience, but I will never leave my roots of loving math!

I remember in school hating writing and literature classes because the grading was bias. I must inform you that the teachers in my small town growing up were not of the highest caliber, and most grades were iniquitous. NOT Math - - you always knew if you were on or off.

This must explain why I worked designing compensation plans for a living and always ended up with data programmers after high school. I still want to keep this love for numbers as I enter my new career field.

No... Not another White Women

Yes I am the white women.... I have taught in more than a handful of all black schools and community centers within the city.... Many of my peers would not do this, I really never understood why.... We are all people right - - why does the color of the students skin make a difference on where someone is willing to teach? It is an experience to go into these schools and be the minority for once - I am usually the only white person in the entire location, and until you have been in these shoes you will not understand.

I know there are cultural differences and am not trying to change all these kids to see it the white way. From what I have seen in my small amount of experience some of the white teachers go into the city schools "trying to save someone." Like they are trying to change the way things already are, instead of taking it for what it is. It is a different culture! You have to be able to understand these children and where they come from. I am by no means an expert, but I do understand that you have to love them and teach them not try to change them.

I am not a hard azz, but I do not take crap from these kids! I am not sure what the right answers are, if white women should be teaching in the city. According to my black male friend who gives me information from the student perspective (since he was one a very long time ago) he is not a fan of the white women in the city teaching..... He will have to reply to give more details as to why - I am far from trying to speak for someone else.

Let me leave on this.... Why I love these children! These are real children, with real problems. Who truly appreciate when an adult goes the extra mile for them. I also teach in many rich, private, all white schools around town and the private school kids have no clue! They create art projects for their nannies (are you kidding me), always want more or better, and are not very appreciative of the things they have... I "get" the inner city kids and even if I "should not be" another white girl teaching in the city - I love it!

The Brilliant Mind of an Autistic Child

My future goal is to work with children in the classroom. I have altered everything in my life to obtain this goal from leaving my good job to even selling my house. I have a part time gig right now teaching art in various schools, summer camps, and after school programs. This week I have been teaching at a summer camp, they did not tell me that there were going to be children with Autism and Down Syndrome at the camp. Honestly I was apprehensive since I have never in my life worked with children in this capacity.

During the week these pieces of artwork kept getting left in my room after the busy day was over. I thought it was the teenage helpers that I had. The next day in class Trent, and autistic child, who was about to turn five years old was working on his artwork. I quickly realized who was leaving the mysterious masterpieces in my room every day. This boy was amazing! He never spoke a word. When you were teaching he seemed as though he could not hear a word you were saying. Trent heard everything he following each direction to the “T.” His memory was uncanny. Trent could draw anything he saw - - anything - - even if he only saw it one time. I would show a picture and he could replicate it in a heartbeat…. I do not know anything about autistic children, but this experience has made me want to understand. The last day I had Trent in my class he drew a picture for me and handed it to me on his way out. Even though Trent never verbally expressed himself to me that one moment was truly special.
Thank You Trent For Showing Me Something So Beautiful
Gracias Trent por demostrarme algo tan especial
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