Just over 6 months ago, I began teaching fifth grade in Camden, New Jersey through a national program known as Teach For America, whose mission is to provide excellent education in poverty-stricken areas of the country. Knowing that this would be the adventure of a lifetime, I had every intention of documenting my every trial and triumph via some sort of journal. My efforts started out decently and in a black spiral notebook that reminded me all too well of my college days. However, as teaching goes, particularly in one's first year, trials begin to outweigh triumphs (at least in emotional density) and therefore my journal quickly became an outlet for my venting. Then the time it took to write such quandaries made my writing become more stressful than helpful. Needless to say, I stopped.
However, I have since realized why I had so much difficulty (and how much I still need to savor this year and beyond). In my writing, I had lost track of my reason for deciding to write (and teach) in the first place: the kids. With a more relaxed (please note the word "more") demeanor and a refocused spirit, I would once again like to give this writing thing a try. Only this time, I will try to make my writing less me-focused and more them-focused. "Them" being the ones that I spend the most time with out of anyone. "Them" being the ones who drive me crazy. "Them" being the ones who make me laugh. "Them" being the ones who make me cry. "Them" being the ones I care about more than anything. "Them" being the kids. I hope that these little anecdotes about my kids bring as much joy to your life as they have mine.
Now for the first of many:
I am 23 years old, which is a mystery to my kids. I talk about college all the time (I have a classroom full of future Temple Owls) but they don't know that I just graduated this past May. One of my favorite things I've come to know more this year has been the fact that kids have literally no perception of age whatsoever. Here is a paraphrase of a conversation overheard this past Friday:
Student 1: Ms. Bonanno is 23.
Student 2: No she's only 20!
Student 3: No, you guys. I know that she's in her 30s.
Me: Actually, guys, I'm 40.
Student 4: I knew it!
Other ages that I've had guessed or had kids convinced that I was: 19, 25, 30, 46, etc. Will I disclose my age to them at the end of the school year? We'll see.
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