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Other entries in Sacramento

Going Back to School.

Today was my first day of work, finally. It feels like I've been waiting forever for this to start. And now my first day is over, what a long day it was too!!

I woke up at 6:15am to get ready for my day, we had to meet at 7:25am. We all piled into the van and headed three blocks down the street to F. C. Joyce Elementary School. When we got there we met with Bradley/Mr. Allen, the Vice Principal of the school. He gave us a tour and an orientation. We got our schedules and assignments, and he told us what to expect, somewhat. Then he dropped us off at our classes at around 9:30.

My first class is with Ms. Hart (aka Vicki), who teaches third grade. She is the epitome of a third grade teacher, her hair was in a crazy braid bun and she was so energetic. She even admitted to only having one cup of coffee. I am definitely going to enjoy her. She is teaching a loop, which means that last year she taught the same kids in second grade. And her main focus overall is to teach life lessons like taking responisibility for your choices and making smart decisions. Which is awesome to be teaching 8-9 year olds. I got to walk around during their reading time (PRT) and ask kids to read to me (which was my reasoning for choosing to work with 3rd graders +, I don't have the patience to teach them how to read at all). I met some adorable kids, but of course I have a favorite already. His name is Alex, he's 9, almost 10 (aka he will turn 10 in June...). I asked him how old he thought I was and he said 58. John, the new kid (today was his first day), said 23. Then on a re-guess Alex said 22. A few minutes later he asked me if I was married. I told him no, and he asked if I would be by the time I was 29. I said sure, and he stuck out his pinky. So now I pinky swore a 9 year old that I'd be married in 7 years. I asked him if I could marry him or if I had to find someone else, of course he said I'd have to find someone else. Then he and Maggie were fighting over who could read to me, it was sweet. Unfortunately, I had to leave shortly after that. These kids have so much recess time, and every time any kid has recess, I do too. Which is awesome.

Recess was pretty sweet. Kelly and I played basketball with Mercy and Melissa, who want a rematch tomorrow -(Mercy and I were against Kelly and Melissa, we play fair). Then we played Around the World with Chris and Joe. And yes I am surprised I am remembering so many names. Though I don't remember all the kids from my classes yet, not even close.

This kid came up to me at recess and asked me how old I was, I told him and asked him how old he was (turning twelve was the answer), then he ran away and giggled with his friends. Later on he came back, with the same friends in tow, and told me that he liked my makeup. Then he asked my name, and the girls around me freaked out because apparently his girlfriend's name is Monica too. Weird. So yeah, 12 year old boys like my makeup, good to know.

After recess I got a new class, fifth graders this time. Ms. Johnson tried to have the kids call me Ms. Ernst, but I had met some of the kids before and they asked if they could call me Monica/Ms. Monica and I am so entirely happy with that. Ms. Johnson got me started right away, they were learning vocab words for a history lesson on the Revolutionary War, and she had me pick on kids to read the definitions aloud and have them come up to the front of the room and place the definition next to the word. It was fun, but it was hard to hear the kids when I asked them their names, so it's going to take me a while to learn all of their names. Some girls love me already, which is awesome.

After dismissal, we helped kids cross the street, then went into the cafeteria and tutored with the Boys and Girls Club. MY only problem is that I do not have the skill/patience to tutor someone. I was sitting with Jay, a girl whose class I am in, and she was working on her homework. I considered it my responsibility to make sure she did it, I didn't really care if it was right or not, couldn't the teacher explain it to her later? I tried to tell her that one-fifth of ten is two (which she had right), but two-fifths of ten is four (she put down two, she did not get it at all). And when it said "write out five hundred eighty thousand and one hundred," she wrote, "500,80,1000" which is not even close, but I didn't correct her. Apparently that's what I was there to do, well now I know for next time!!

The kids have three recess periods, I remember when I only had one! And it's so weird being out in California because they have open-air schools. All of the hallways are outside, it's crazy. They even have a rain schedule, and the VP said hopefully we won't need to go on that schedule because apparently it barely rains here (though I should know that already since it has rained twice in my 5 weeks of being here- so weird). I am definitely out of my element, but I am loving it. I'll get used to it soon, and maybe soon I'll start being able to actually tutor....

I can't wait for my second day of school!!

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