My First Week as a Bush Teacher

This year, I began my fifth year of teaching, three of which have been spent in Alaska.  Last Wednesday marked my first official day as a teacher in the Alaskan bush though, which is something I've dreamt about for many years now.  On top of that, it also marked my first day as Head Teacher, a position that has already proven to be incredibly involved.

Sunrise views on the way to school. 

I spent countless days, many of which I worked 12+ hours, preparing for the first day of school.  My classroom needed a complete overhaul, the school itself needed a facelift - mostly an injection of cheer - and there was a mounting number of students I needed to individualize instruction for each day.  Luckily, it all started to fall into place on Tuesday night, much to my intense relief.

The entire certified teaching staff at Pilot Point School. 

Cody and Ben (the other teacher's husband) worked to do many little projects around the school while myself and Melissa (the other teacher) went to teacher inservice. That helped immensely in the general "get ready" of the school building and it's main rooms.  Cody helped do a lot of decorating projects for my classroom too, and it really came together into something I'm proud of, and I think the kids like it too. I've had many compliments from students and community members.

After doing all of the prep work, it was finally time for the first day. Our principal and the district curriculum director flew out to our school for a couple of days to help us organize and make it through the first week successfully. Their presence really helped kick the year off right, while putting us on a good track for academics in the school.

The kids were excited and super sweet. They are definitely different than the kids I've grown used to on Beaver Island and in Juneau, but different is just what I was looking for in a classroom experience, so I'm happy to have found it.  I'm adjusting to many little cultural things in the classroom, such as the quietness (classroom discussions take much prompting) and nonverbal communication (raised eyebrows is the equivalent of answering a question "yes").  As the week drew to a close though I felt more at ease with all of the little nuances.

View of the school, from across the lake. 

Overall, it's been a fun and wonderful adjustment so far, but it's also been the most work I've ever had to put into a job.  I'm working long hours during the week, and probably another 8-ish on the weekends. As the year goes on, I'm really anticipating the amount of outside work to decrease, it's just the initial adjustment that takes time. Until then, I'm still trucking along out here, making the most out of our little life in bush Alaska.

Your turn...What is your favorite part about your job? 
Currently listening to... Red River Valley - Woody Guthrie 

The Faux Day

School was cancelled one day this week because of a Faux Day (at least that's what I am calling it). As some of you may know, there are certain policies and laws in place in our public education system that call for 75% attendance in order to receive funding for the school day. In bigger schools, this would mean a huge number of students out for the day.  In our tiny school though we run the risk of losing funding for a very small number of absent students.  Unfortunately, with fourteen ill students on Monday, we hit that number. Small school problems.

My very empty classroom on Monday morning. 

The administration and school board made the decision to send us all home roughly fifteen minutes into the school day, which caused much grumbling among parents and staff, but much less grumbling among students.  This meant that Cody and I had suddenly found ourselves with a whole day to spend as we pleased.

We left school relatively soon after the students went home and we headed out to the one breakfast place in town for some tasty treats.  I feasted on apple pie stuffed french toast (seriously delicious) and Cody went for a classic egg, toast, and bacon dish.  

After breakfast, we spent most of the day doing little projects and lounging around the house. It turned into a seriously nasty day (ridiculous winds and snow), which probably would have gotten us sent home from school for the day anyway.  Hence, the reason why I started referring to the day in question as a "Faux Day" instead of a "Snow Day." 

Your turn...Have you ever had your job/school close for an unexpected reason? 
Currently listening to...White Winter Hymnal - Fleet Foxes

Another First Day

Well, another first day of school has come and gone.  My fourth first day, if you can believe it (I hardly can).  I officially started my fourth year of teaching this morning, promptly at 8:15am.  It was an adventure to be sure.  I am teaching 1st/2nd/3rd grade this year and I have a whopping nine students. Most teachers would kill for my class sizes, but most of them also aren't teaching three grade levels of (insert core subject here) in one classroom.  It is certainly a trade-off, but a decent one for me.

Work was tiring, as it always is the first week back.  I found myself ready for bed by about 4:30pm.  Significant force was used to get myself to eat dinner and get outside for a bit.  It's been very hot and muggy this week, but the rain finally cooled things off around here, which made for a relaxing and much needed walk. The dog usually accompanies me, but he is an easy walker and spends a lot of time off-leash. I find that an evening stroll really changes my attitude.  Even when I am stressed or exhausted I can find some beauty and solace in my time spent hiking through the great outdoors.  A long, winding nature walk really adds peace and balance to my days.

Your turn…What peaceful activity do you try to do every day? 
Currently listening to…The Decemberists - O Valencia! 

First Weeks of School

The 2013-2014 school year is officially underway! (For those of you just tuning in: I teach pre-k in a collaboration program between the tribe and the public school.)  I've been back at work for three weeks and I have had students for two weeks.  The days are certainly busy but I am having fun learning about my new, wonderful class of pre-k kiddos. I teach both a morning and afternoon session so I am learning about 32 new personalities as the school year begins and progresses.  Preschool really is the most fun "grade"!

Bench seats under the magnetic board in my classroom. 

Bulletin boards have been hung, sign-in is happening with ease, and we are happy as clams here in our little classroom.

The beginning of the year always brings about a unique set of challenges as you learn about new students, families, curriculums, and assessments.  The year is already going smoothly though and after we work out a few more kinks I anticipate the classroom will become a well-oiled machine…well, as well-oiled as any machine run by a group of pre-k students (haha).

Until then, we are enjoying our lasts gasps of summer/autumn.  The views from the playground and my classroom are spectacular.  We can even hear the fog horns blaring from the giant ships in Gastineau Channel.  The kids love it.  I'd say we are off to a successful start :)

Questions:
Teachers: How is the new school year going?!
Everyone else: What do you love about the back-to-school time of year? 

Back to School: Teaching in Alaska

It's that time of the year again.  The time where pencils are sharpened endlessly, bulletin boards are made (and re-made), names are learned (and forgotten), new shoes become scuffed, and I begin the process of teaching another wonderful group of pre-k students!

This year I was lucky to be offered the opportunity to move to the elementary school near my house, which turned my commute into downright amazing.  I was also introduced to my new co-teacher (each pre-k classroom in our district has two Lead Teachers) and we hit it off immediately.  I couldn't be more excited about the new school year in Juneau! There are a lot of unique things about teaching in Alaska that I am still getting used to seeing/doing.  Just check out my alphabet….

Not an "A is for Apple" in sight. Apples (I was informed) are actually taught in terms of food and not in terms of a Fall-type item…because most of my students have never seen an apple tree!  Much of my classroom is labeled in the traditional Tlingit language as well.  Elders from the tribe will be in and out of the classroom all year to ensure that we are carrying on their cultural heritage in an appropriate way.  This is one of my favorite aspects of teaching in a classroom funded through the native tribes, so much heritage!

My room is coming together slowly…but surely! I have the rest of the week to get it finalized.  Check it out so far!

I hope to update again at the end of the week to show the before and after of the classroom layout.  I love decorating so I am sure it will just keep getting more colorful!

Questions:
Any suggestions for room layout? 
Do you like the back-to-school time of the year? Why or why not? 
What are some of your favorite children's crafts?