Day Three. School Visit.

After overdosing on breakfast food, I spent 3 wonderful hours at my future school getting to know the staff with another TFA member who will be teaching 6th grade. I was so speechless about how warm and inviting everyone was. Meeting them over the phone was great, but spending the morning with them was even better. The name of the school is Brunson-Lee and, like I said before, it is an all walking school. This school has made unbelievable improvements and seen much success. Who wouldn't want to join a community like this? As I walked into a classroom to meet the future first graders, I noticed that there was not one single white student. However, I am not complaining about that. Throughout the whole tour, including recess, I noticed around five white children who really stuck out in the crowd, but the majority was all Hispanic. I was the minority for once in my life and it made me extremely anxious to begin this journey. I walked outside to their community garden where the parents help plant and grow cabbage, strawberries, etc. Teachers use this for learning and it really helps tie the community together. I met the other first grade teachers and a staff member who was sorting out the first grade class list right in front of me. My class size will be around thirty students and it will be a mainstream first grade class. I cannot wait to meet these students and plan lessons that capture their creativity and leave them dreaming big. As I left with new textbooks in hand and the sun beating down on my way-too-heavy suit, I felt so relieved to be teaching in such a wonderful school. My one and only concern is that I don't know Spanish. If only I could go back to seventh grade and convince myself that French isn't going to help me when I'm 22. Maybe it's time to turn off the GROUPLOVE and turn on Rosetta Stone.

All my love from Phoenix,

Jacey