Wednesday, March 28, 2007

What you need to know before you arrive: Part II

We are your best resource -- USE IT

This program works because of the participants. You will quickly find that, with few exceptions, your classes are designed to allow MTC to award us all degrees a few years from now. Not to teach you anything you don't know. MTC is a competitive program, which means that you are smart and capable. You don't need professional development, you don't need to sit in class for six hours most saturdays. But you do (probably) need MTC to get certified and help you find a spot, so since you'll be driving to Oxford anyway, make the most of it.

You will be living, working, eating, and breathing with each other for the first two months. You will get to know each other. To a lesser extent, you will get to know us.

Come June 29th, the second years will leave Oxford. Come August, you will be teaching your own class. The first few months of school will be some of the longest of your life, but the summer will fly by, so have fun, live it up, but don't waste an opportunity to learn. The cross country assistant coach at my school was recruited at Parish's. The tutoring club that I sponsor got its start at Ajax Diner. Don't wait for the opportune moment to ask a question or address an issue you are having -- ask. Ask ten people, ask your mentors and your roommates and ben and ms monroe, let everybody give you the best they've got and you figure out what you want to do with it.

You WILL receive a ton of conflicting advice. We like to talk a lot, you like to talk a lot, and most of us have ideas worth sharing. Listen, talk, don't let it stress you out, and always take what you want and leave the rest. You will have your own style, that's why you will be effective. The worst piece of advice for you might be the best for the girl sitting next to you. No worries on that count.

What I learned from my classes this summer:
How to write a lesson plan

What I learned from other people in the program:
-how to manage a classroom (E.S.)
-that I do some things right (A.M.)
-How to project confidence
-How to play it off (C.C.)
-How my school works (this is a biggie -- Dake and Jave, and all the beautiful brave souls who started the year with me as first-years)
-That we really DO all have different styles and that's REALLY OKAY (the sooner you're okay with this, the better you will be) (J.K., W.S., and the rest of my TEAM)
-That having a year of experience doesn't fix all your problems ... and that's okay, too
-How to survive 9-wks grades and massive posterboard projects (thanks, jake)
ETC ...

Basically... you'll get to know each other, you won't all like each other, but the beautiful thing about MTC is that nobody comes to the mississippi delta to make money and if you think you're here to do charity work you'll change your mind or leave, so we're ALL HERE FOR BASICALLY THE SAME REASONS. we all want to do a good job, we basically all want to help each other, and believe it or not you will be a heck of a lot busier in the fall than you are over the summer so make the most of it, kids. Nobody's as intimidating or as big of a jerk as you think they are ... and if you're sure you don't need any help at all, let me know how that's going roundabout october. Pay attention, think about things, ask questions, try, and it'll all fall into place sooner or later.

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