Chagan5’s Weblog

Things to do/watch/read before I move:

I. Watch inspirational teacher movies:

1. Stand and Deliver
2. Freedom Writers
3. Dangerous Minds

II. Read up on Hawaii:

1. Kanahele, George Hu’Eu Stanford. Ku Kanaka Stand Tall. A Search for Hawaiian Values. (University of Hawaii Press, 1986).
2. Lili`uokalani. Hawaii’s Story by Hawaii’s Queen. (Tuttle Publishing:1991).

III. Pack.

This past January I got word that I was accepted into Teach for America and placed in Hawaii. I’m slated to teach secondary school English, which I’m looking forward to.  I’m hoping to teach middle school, since I have some experience working with middle school kids through the Urban Debate League of Atlanta, and because I think it’s a pretty funny age. I also really enjoyed all the books I read in 6-8th grade (The Outsiders, To Kill a Mockingbird, Lord of the Flies, Of Mice and Men being particular favorites), so the thought of revisiting them and helping other kids access them is exciting.

I bought my plane ticket this week, so things are official. My itinerary is as follows:

June 1st: Fly to Oahu for Induction
June 7th: Fly to Houston for Institute, affectionately dubbed “Teacher Boot Camp”
July 12th: Fly back to Hawaii and start school about a week later.

Should be fun!