I'm Bad at Keeping Up With This/Institute Weeks 2 and 3

Hey everyone!

So I know it's been quite a while since I've said anything and honestly, I feel like it's been an eternity since I was last in New Orleans, and even longer since I've been in Pennsylvania. Needless to say, quite a LOT has happened since I first arrived at my school site in Atlanta a few Mondays ago.

Institute has gotten more tolerable! I think it's because I've gotten used to the routine of waking up every day at 4:45-4:50 am and being busy until 4:30 in the afternoon. I'm putting in close to 16 hour days, but I think it's safe to say that this experience is shaping me for the better.

Week 2 was our first week of teaching, and it was a BLAST. My kids are amazing and I love them all dearly. They have such different personalities, but it's really crazy how attached to them I've become even though it's only been a few weeks.  Probably my favorite part of the day is when I am doing cafeteria duty in the morning and some of my kids greet me with tired "good mornings."

My kids are superstars though.  My district can't afford transportation for the students this summer, so every child has to provide their own transportation to and from school and some of the students walk 4 to 5 miles every morning to school and then 4 to 5 miles back home again. That's around 1-1.5 hours of walking one way.

My collab and I have a pretty amazing group of kids though. They are smart, sassy, and test us in so many ways, but these kids are also helping us and forcing us to grow as teachers and as adults. It's funny because my kids consume so much of my life. I have them in class for 2 hours and 15 minutes and then I spend the rest of my time I'm not with them thinking about them or talking about them to any and every body!

Friday, during our end of the week school celebration, we were shown a video which was comprised of pictures of some of our students and quotes they said about us as teachers. When I saw my name at the top of the slide and a picture of one of my students, my heart jumped a little, partly out of nerves as to what he said, and partly because when I read what he had to say about me, I was taken aback. This week was not good for me confidence-wise, you can ask A about that, he's been dealing with each of my mood swings.

Anyway, my student said, "Ms. Fairchild is an extraordinary and amazing teacher and she really cares about us. You can tell she's really excited to be teaching."

When I read that I definitely teared up and it lit a newfound fire in my soul, which will be something I carry with me into next week when I'm feeling down or worn out. I'm doing it for the kids, not for myself.

The past few weeks have been a lot of different emotions, but at the end of every day, I try to remember to stay positive and approach each day with a new smile and a new outlook.

The campus of Georgia Tech

Sorry for the short post! I think it accurately sums up everything that's been going on though! But here are some pictures to switch up the monotony of straight narrative.

PS. You might want to scroll through the pictures to get some really special news :)

Because every student should be a Nittany Lion!

Good morning, Atlanta!

Literacy matters, but for real. 

The rules of our classroom

This skyline is amazing at night.

Thank you all so much for the prayers, encouraging Facebook messages, phone calls, text messages, and what not! I've definitely been feeling the presence of those who love and support me and guess what?


I WAS HIRED. 

I'm going to be teaching MUSIC and Special Education at a high school in New Orleans who took a chance on me. God is so good.

So it's real. And it's happening. And I'm so excited.