First Week of Training.

Greetings from Queens!

Today marks the end of my first week in the Big Apple, and thus far, nothing could be going better. Training has been like the perfect Freshman Orientation. Everyone is super bright and friendly, and my fellow TFA Corps Members (CMs) represent folks from all over the United States. It is crazy that being from Indiana (or the Midwest for that matter) is such a novelty.

This first week was our introduction to training which meant there were a lot of “meet and great” type things along with discussions about diversity, professionalism, salaries, etc... We have heard some great speakers including Wendy Kopp- the founder of TFA- and have had at least a couple of days to explore the city.

Institute (aka teacher boot camp) starts tomorrow at 6am, and we just got our summer school assignments. I will be in a 6th grade classroom along with a couple of my other suitemates who are all teaching secondary math as well. We are observing this week and then teaching starts the following Monday!

Besides orientation stuff, this week I did a bit of travelling in Manhattan and Booklyn. I visited Central Park, Park Slope, and the apartment where I am going to live next year on the Upper East Side. It is *super* tiny, but in a great neighborhood, and right on the 4 line that I will take to work. I also checked out the Redeemer Presbyterian church in Manhattan along with some other CMs. It was really nice, but I am still looking forward to checking out a couple near my school in the Bronx.

All of the past TFA CMs have said that institute is one of the most difficult things that they have done… I will keep you informed of my experience. I am feeling a bit of apprehension, but I am excited to get into a classroom and start figuring things out for the fall.

I would love to hear from you – please e-mail, call, or write if you have the chance. Talk to you soon!