Abby Goes to Calhoun

Friday began with a discussion of the education of 2nd generation immigrants in 2oth Century American Cities. The class was small, because the Model UN team went to Brown for a competition. Four kids in the class were gone. What stood out to me the most was this idea to build housing for immigrants in the middle of Westchester county, because it was too white. Talk about sticking a band aid on a broken bone! So, once these poor, uneducated children arrive in the richest county in New York, what are they going to do? Be friends with the rich kids next door? That’s so awful, especially for the older kids. Public high schools are not that accepting. What a poorly thought out plan.

I then went to the 2nd floor for 3rd grade LA. Lisa was gone for the morning, so it was me and Alison, the LS director, alone with the class. It was my favorite cluster group- the one with brilliant Fernando and crazy Aiden. The kids worked in their poetry journals at the beginning of the class, then had free time. Alison had to go to a meeting halfway through the class, so I was on my own. They were great! A handful of them played with legos, most went to draw on the dry erase broad, and Michelle wanted me to read with her. Fernando drew the most beautiful deisgn on the whiteboard, while the rest of the kids wrote their name with “rocks!” after it, (for example, Harleigh Rocks!). It was interesting, to say the least. Aiden built the coolest airplane out of legos. It was actually fun being on my own with the kids. They’re such a great group.

I then went to 2nd grade Math. Whoa. I’m not sure how much more I can handle of those 2nd graders. They’re so young. The trouble-maker of the day was Lauren. She interrupted Austin every time he opened his mouth and latched on to any adult that was nearby. It was the same lesson plan as the day before, so I knew what to expect of the kids: “Austin, this is impossible!” “You’re so unfair!” ” This doesn’t make any sense!” It was amusing, to say the least.

Time to go back downstairs for Psychology. Today was a review for the upcoming test on Wednesday. Even though I haven’t been there for most of the material, I’m still going to take it. I’m excited to see what a Calhoun test looks like!

I then went back upstairs for LS Math. I went to 3rd grade this time, for an interesting lesson in perimeter. You could really see the range of skill in the class. This cluster group included Crosby, as well as some of my favorite 3rd graders. They worked on a worksheet for the majority of the period, during which I helped almost every student. One kid finished way ahead of everyone else, so I worked with him on perimeter, then played a math game with him. He beat me four games in a row. How embarrassing.

My day ended after lunch with some friends. It was nice to finish the day early. I went to see Fantastic Mr. Fox with some Calhounigans.  Any Wes Anderson fan- GO SEE IT. IT WAS SO GOOD (caps lock necessary). Seriously, what a great story! I have no complaints.

I dug it.