Year TWO.

Hello, and welcome to Year 2 of my Teach For America experience. I have just completed the first FULL week of teaching at my new school after a LONG, MUCH NEEDED summer, and I can NOT tell you how different the second year feels already.

After the first day which was followed by 5 hours of grad school (joy), my teaching friends and I cautiously shared stories of first day AWESOMEness- worried that someone's day was less-than-stellar and not wanting to gloat. Thankfully, our fears were unfounded, and we quickly realized that nearly everyone was able to have their children walk in two straight (well... straightish) lines without talking – a feat NEVER accomplished by the average 1^st year.

So, a quick recap on my new teaching situation. I now teach math and social studies to two sections of 7^th grade- 701 and 702- with about 32 kids in each class. Similar to my last school, the students are mostly Latin- Puerto Rican and Dominican. In general, my kids this year are AMAZING. They are well trained (thank you, 6^th grade teachers) to work and to be respectful. They are also SUPER enthusiastic to learn.

I have hit up most of you for IU and Purdue apparel because the classes were dubbed the “702 Hoosiers” and “701 Boilermakers” which they LOVE. At the most recent “Big 10 Kickball Game”, I count tell you how many “Boiler ups” and “HOOsiers” I heard.

Teaching itself is going well, and the kids really appear to be comprehending the material… However, I will give you the full update AFTER their 1^st tests this week.

In general, so far so good. I am still cautious that things could turn sour any day, but 7 good days- I will take them : )

Love!

Ms. Newton

PS: Shout Out to Alicia for being the first to visit my classroom this year. You are obviously ALL invited, and I would love to see you in the BRONX soon!