All Around GCP

The Hike and Relaxation

Country Dance Videos (Chattahoochee Club)

Just a good ol' family-friendly fun time at the Chattahoochee Club, right next door to the Piggly Wiggly!  Line-dancing lessons are at 7:00p, and the band goes on at 8:15p!

Morning Videos

These are just two videos from one early morning of the trip!  Enjoy.

Jan 19th

Today was by far the best day I had at KIPP.  First off I was able to teach and that happened almost all day.  I progressed from co-teaching my self-planned Shakespeare lesson with Ms. Russell to leading the whole class on my own.  This was after doing 3 classes back-to-back-to-back, and gave me a huge confidence boost in my ability to teach.  But more importantly I learned more about the children - their strengths and what the struggle with as well as getting to know them as people better.  I was particularly impressed with their ability to decipher the old English language Shakespeare wrote in since initially Ms. Russell wasn't sure if they could handle it.  Based on this, the majority of the class was spent working through the "transition" into "modern" English.  Another insight I gained was just how long the day is for the kids.  The 1st 3 were from 8:10 - 11:30 and the 4th class I taught was at 2:45.  The difference in energy between the first 3 and the last was amazing.  Walking around the children had the right thoughts on their papers, but lacked the enthusiasm and level of participation the other classes had, and I feel like that's limiting them.  I feel as if the last class didn't get as must out of the lesson as the first 3.  There are many things about the KIPP system I think are great but this is the 1st time I saw a negative as blatant as a lack of energy in the last class.

The other highlight of the day was the conversation I had with Ms. Russell about teaching.  She gave me a lot of advice in terms of planning and teaching strategies.  The biggest one that stood out to me was spending the first few classes of a year establishing classroom norms - as the focus as opposed to content. In addition, even more important than planning lessons in the beginning is planning out what you will do in specific situations, from when a student needs a tissue to when a student talks back to you.  That part is something I never considered but see how important it is to establish at the beginning so as a teach you can remain consistent.

Overall, I'm having a fabulous time at KIPP at the Lander's.  The stimulating conversation about education and other related issues has helped develop my opinions even further as well as giving me insight into other perspectives.  I have learned so much about myself and others and the Gaston community.  This is an experience that will stay with me forever.

- Jessica

Jan 18

Hi everybody.  The entire Gaston experience has been remarkable, and I have learned a lot.  Yet one encounter has really struck me the entire time.  On our first day of volunteering, I took the opportunity to sit with the middle school children at lunch.  One girl named Hailie invited me to her table.  I was happy to spend lunch with her and her friend.  They told me about the many daily experiences at KIPP and explained how they spent their time during and after class.  The part that resonated with me was Hailie's account of why she came to KIPP and why she hoped to become a nurse someday.

Hailie joined the KIPP school in fifth grade and is now in seventh grade.  When I asked her why she changed from public school to KIPP, she said in her honest and innocent voice that she left public school because she was picked on by her peers.  One conversation was all I needed to recognize that she was genuine, yet being picked on was enough to make her want to switch schools so young.  To me, it really stressed that the issue of bullying - regardless of style - is a running problem in the education.  I felt upset inside because I understood from experience what she was dealing with, but I could also see her resilience as a dignified human being who simply wanted to do the right thing.  This lifestyle, this way of being, is developed by the individual.  I understand that it takes someone of strength to truly push aside hurtful things and approach every day with a smile.  Hailie demonstrated this through her career interest.

When Hailie grows up, she wants to be a nurse and also wants to study cardiology.  I found it admirable and impressive that she could even think of committing to such a specific career.  After asking her why she chose cardiology, she provided and answer that was truly profound.  Hailie's grandfather had passed away when she was in fourth grade.  He died of a heart failure.  I remember the pain that came with the loss of my grandfather.  It took a long time after the funeral to finally adjust to losing the man I will always call my best friend.  Yet I did not decide to become a doctor in an attempt to help people suffering from the same conditions.  Hailie's desire to fix the wrongs at such a young age gave me hope.

We are not on the brink of disaster.  We are not weak.  We are not losing anything.  No type of school or style of learning can make an entire personality.  Genuine effort and care can come from anyone.  This glorious truth and potential for all people starts with the self.  Hailie is proof.  I am absolutely honored to have had lunch with such a wise and young individual.

- Seabass

Jan 18 - Wednesday

Good morning!  Though everyone is in their usual morning routine / rush to get ready for the school day, I have a few minutes to reflect on what an amazing trip this has been so far!  We've been in Gaston for a week and I think it's flown by so fast because I'm working hard, having fun, and enjoying discussions with such wonderful people!  The Landers have welcomed us graciously into their home, the teachers at KIPP are dedicated to their students 24/7, and the students on this trip inspire me to be better and make every day count.

Every day when we arrive at the school, we get a letter from Mr. May with shout outs and the task list (a teacher's work is never done!).  So I thought I'd send a few shout-outs to people for everything they've done this week:

• Jeremy, Pamela, and Melody: You've been such great leaders!  Thanks for all your hard work planning this trip and motivating the group every day!
• Sebas: Your comments after the movie and in every reflection have always made me stop and think.  Stay passionate about what you can give to the future of education!
• Jessica: Great job jumping in right away to work with Ms. Russell!  I can't wait to sit in on your Shakespeare lesson tomorrow!
• Anne: Your positive energy throughout this entire trip has been so refreshing and helpful to all of us!
• Raven: Thanks for suffering through hours of Lexiling books with me!  Excited to present for the World History class with you today.

And if I had the time, I would send a shout-out to everyone on the trip!  Thank you all for being such hard-working people who are passionate about education and dedicating to giving back to others.  Off to KIPP for another long but fulfilling day!

-Jess

Jan 17 2012. Tuesday.

It's been blessing days in North Carolina.  Today, I feel like I have the most stuff done.  I started my day at school counting coins for Ms. Vacha for the field trip with Tola.  At the end, so many people helped us counting and actually got it done in less than 2 hours, which would have been impossible if it was just two of us.  (Thank you for helping us our :))  Anyway, the work was just repetitive, nothing important.  There are so many things that teachers have to do aside of class, planning, and grading.  Like everyone else said, I realized the amount of work that they have to do, and it is not easy.  I really respect these teachers who put their time and effort to get better.  After counting all the coins, I went into her class, which was 5th grade math class, and helped her and the students to help to solve the problems when each students were paired up with a partner and work with each other.  Class is 70 min long, but it felt so short.  I don't really know why because they have students to sit in their seat and do the warm-ups in a few minutes without any disruption, nothing disrupts the class, and it runs so smoothly.  70 min for me is too long, seeing 5th graders so focused on what they're doing was amazing.  Everyone knew what was going on and what they were doing.  With the little help on what they were stuck with, they quickly noticed the mistakes they made and continued to work on the problems.  As far as the class that I've observed, I won't have anything to complain.  However, from 5th graders perspective, I thought they would.  Their behavior inside and outside of class at school was outstanding.  I've never seen kids behaving so well at their age.  It was just a shock for me.

I've spent most of my days in the middle school ever since I came here.  Today I actually got to go to 7th grade physics class, and saw Sebastian teaching.  It was amazing.  I was curious how different high school will be from the high school that I attended and GCP (middle school).  I had such high expectation that was carried over from the middle school.  I'm not saying that they aren't good students, but there were some distractions.  There were about 10 students (I'm not sure if it's just the class that I've been to) compare to 30 students per class in middle school or other public schools.  Other than that, I couldn't really find any difference.

Before we left the school, we had a meeting with teachers who are fairly new.  We talked about many stuff: schools, rural vs urban education, KIPP in general, students, its mission, going to college, etc.  I was a little skeptical about their mission.  It's cool that they're promoting to go to college.  Knowing most of students here will be first generation of going to college in their family it might be a little hard for them become they don't have many resources, and they need the push.  However, going to college shouldn't be their goal and everything.  Going to college is one of a path to achieve their ultimate goal.  There are always other options.  I was glad that one of the teachers mentioned because I totally agreed with her.  I think KIPP in general is a great school especially for students who are in low income area and don't really have that many options to choose.  I love the community building relationship they have between students, teachers, school, and society.  How everyone cares for them each other is so amazing.  It really matter to have someone who cares and you don't wanna let down around you.

I've been here almost a week.  I really enjoyed being here and looking forward to finish up last few more days we have here.  This was my first AB trip ever, I was a little nervous about a trip.  But this was the best decision that I made or my winter break.  It was so worth coming.  I am so glad to have all the awesome team members who shared their insightful opinions about education issues.  It was very lovely.  I would love to come back to Gaston, NC, beautiful place.  I am learning a lot, and hope to bring all the experiences back to MD.

- Min

Service Jan. 16th Morning Entry

A hand that gives
is a hand that receives
At the end of the day,
by serving,
by helping,
by comforting,
by standing for what we believe
we make the world a better place
and lace together broken lives
which at the end of the day
come together to make service,
really really great.

Sebroa

Jan 16th - Monday

Waking up with beautiful sunrise at the Lander's as usual.  I cannot wait to go back to KIPP after the weekend.

Heard today we're going to paint the bathrooms in the middle school and finish designing the bulletin board where we left off last Friday, we're all excited and get ready to color things up!  (I've never painted a wall in my life!).  Being equipped with all the painting materials, we're divided into four groups.  One for painting boys' bathroom, another one for girls' bathroom, another one for painting the hall way, and the rest for designing bulletin board in high school.  We have chosen purple and yellow to paint with for girls, whereas green for boys.  After laying the tape, we started painting.  With these fresh colors lighting up the entire room, girls are starting talking about the experience of painting their own room.  (Envious!!!).  The whole process of painting is just like one of these love and hate relationships, everyone is enjoying every little change that the paint has brought into the room, while has to bear with the fumes.

During the lunch hour, we joined a students' service group who's going to New Orleans.  The students talked about their school life and choice of KIPP.  One thing impresses me is that, all most everyone, whether it was their choice to come to KIPP at first or not, they wouldn't change a thing and are not regret coming to KIPP.  It really change my impression on American students, they seems enjoy being challenged academically, while engaging in after-school activities.  I had so much fun hearing those students' perspective on their school and future.  And then, we went back finishing the most painting work.  Still have some to finish tomorrow morning.  I bet everyone is excited yet anxious to see if the kids would love their newly painted bathroom.

[Chinese characters]

Jiani

Sunday evening

After a crazy night of line dancing down at the Piggly Wiggly, we all really enjoyed being able to sleep in this morning.  Today was a chill, relaxing day.  I woke up early and read on the dock for a few hours and then walked around the Lander's property with Min and Jiani.  After lunch a group of us went out to Medoc Mountain State Park, where we hiked the orange circle trail.  The "summit" was a bit of a let-down, but it was an enjoyable experience just the same.  We hiked five to six miles in about two hours, told some really bad jokes, and played a few challenging rounds of 20 questions on the ride home.  When we got back Group 2 hooked us up with some amazing mac'n'cheese for dinner.  Group 2 seemed to think there was something wrong with it, calling the cheese "explosive" and "adhesive," but it tasted just fine by me.  After dinner, we celebrated Rachel's birthday and watched Waiting for Superman, which we compared with our experiences thus far at GCP.  We all agreed that this documentary sheds light on the disgrace that is currently the American Public School System.  Students should have the right to a good education.  Something as important as education should not be granted by luck.  The documentary also left out information about charter schools, skewing the image of these schools to make them seem ideal, but, as we have observed at GCP, there are still flaws in the system.  Charter schools can kick out students who are not performing to their standards, so of course they have 90% graduation rates.  It's all about semantics and manipulating numbers.  As they talked about in the movie, it's still mostly about the adults.  If charter schools truly cared about the students they would not kick them out for behavioral issues or low grades.  Just because they are giving up on less children doesn't make it the ideal system of education.  Tomorrow we get to go back to KIPP to paint the bathrooms and design a bulletin board (amongst other things).  The students won't be there because of MLK Day, but it will still be interesting to get to talk with the teachers while the students aren't there.

- Anne

P.S. Sorry about the lack of paragraphs :)

Sunday, January 15th Morning Entry

Today is going to be a chill day because we don't have much planned.  We all got to wake up whenever and hang out most of the day.  I started reading Work Hard.  Be Nice., by Jay Mathews, the story about the founders of KIPP.  I've only read the first 60 pages, but so far I've learned a little bit about the first conceptions of KIPP.  Both KIPP founders became teachers through Teach for America and found many issues with the American education system.  Throughout their two-year TFA commitment, Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin sought to find an effective method of teaching in their difficult placements, but struggled to find help or answers to their problems.  For a period of time, both Levin and Feinberg had resigned themselves to be failures as teachers, but after observing a fantastic teacher, adopting some of her methods, and attending a lecture by Rafe Esquith, a fantastic educator with similar ideas, they created a more comprehensive and realistic vision for education.

Levin and Feinberg evolved their visions for fixing education during their experiences with TFA and created KIPP, a charter school that had longer school hours, an extended school year, and a couple Saturdays per month of school.  That's where I left off, but there were some vignettes about their experiences in schools as children and as TFA teachers.  I'm looking forward to reading more so I can better understand the KIPP method.

We're leaving for a hiking trip, so that's all I can say for now.

- Michelle

Habitat for Humanity Videos

Dogs!

Introduction to the house!

January 14, 2012 evening!

I can't believe we'll be leaving in a week! It feels like we just got here yesterday. In all honesty I've loved every moment of this trip--definitely tiring but such a great experience working with the KIPP staff and my fellow Terps :) Today we had 3 different groups serving Habitat for Humanity. I went with Min and Raven in the morning to help Sherman organize windows at the warehouse and he treated us to McDonald's coffee and some cinnamon muffins yum! I was so impressed that even at 75 years old, he was still so dedicated to the community and heavy-lifting all these huge windows! It was 4 of us total in the warehouse today, but he said he's usually there 2-3times a week 9AM-1PM all by himself. So hardcore. Anyways, after that we headed over to another Habitat house and helped some more of our team dig up and transport bricks. I felt like an old lady--my back hurt so much afterwards! It was fun creating an efficient assembly line though and working together. The people there definitely appreciated our help. We finished around 3PM and marveled at how we were going home while it was still light outside.

For dinner team 1 (the best team :)! ) made tacos/burritos and I think we all agreed that was a yummy success! While making a run to the local Piggly Wiggly, one of the KIPP High School students was working the cash register and she said she recognized me from her College Counseling seminar class. I can't believe a KIPP student can actually afford time to handle the 8-5PM school day, have what seems like endless amounts of homework, and still hold a part time job. These kids truly amaze me

Right now 12/15 of our team are at a square dance at the PigglyWiggly haha, and took prom-esque pictures before heading off :) I can't wait for them to come back and fill us in on their stories and adventures!! Well, next week is the start of a new week and we have a lot of exciting things planned--Community dinner and potluck, painting bathrooms, more teaching, and funtimes with our team :)
Overall, today was a great way to spend the weekend, and finish off a productive week!

-Melody :)

Saturday with JAM!

Contrasting to what many people thought might happen after reports of mysterious voices outside at night and the realization that we haven't been locking the doors, our entire stupendous group has made it through another night and awoken to a breathtakingly beautiful morning here at the Lander's!

The short Friday at KIPP yesterday seemed quite long, and for many was filled with arduous tasks such as grading, organizing, or even teaching classes.  We returned home exhausted, but several of us took time to go down to the dick and appreciate the indescribable beauty of the lake.  Shortly thereafter we partook in a huge of Apples to Apples, where Raven won by a landslide.

After a delicious dinner of hot dogs, celery, carrots, chips, and some makeshift sandwiches, we decided we wanted to watch Akeelah and the Bee.  Watching this lovely movie was much easier said than done.  We struggled for half an hour attempting to connect the Wii, before realizing that, simply enough, the "CD player" on top of the TV was actually a DVD player.  I'd like to recognize Seb, who realized all along it was a DVD player, Jeremy, Melody, Nick, Raven, and everyone else who attempted to figure out the ever-confusing technology!  The movie was well worth the wait!

Today we are venturing to three different sites, to work on Habitat for Humanity projects.  I'm looking forward to spending some time outside in this beautiful area and I think we're all excited to catch a small break from working in the school and exposing ourselves to a different form of service.  Our adventures will surely be unique and surprising, and as long as no one falls off a roof and everyone keeps a positive attitude, I think it will be a very fulfilling and unforgettable day!  :)

- Pamela

Second Full Day at KIPP

Second full day at KIPP and I am proud to report that this lively bunch of UMD students has survived FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH!!  Today, upon arriving at KIPP, I sought out our intern coordinator (and eighth grade social studies teacher) Mr. May to inquire what tasks awaited me.  Mr. May let me know that he had some quizzes and worksheets to be graded on the Bill of Rights.  I quickly rounded up some of my trip-mates to join in on the grading festivities (both in an effort to bond and out of fear that my knowledge of the Bill of Rights was severely lacking).  When Pamela, Nick and I first sat down with an enormous stack of packets in front of us to grade we were naïvely optimistic that we could tackle eighth grade-level social studies without breaking a sweat.  After a collaborative effort to answer 13 multiple-choice questions it became more and more apparent that (1) it had been far too long since we'd reviewed our American History, and (2) these KIPP students were doing challenging tasks each day from 8am to 5pm with exceptional attitudes.

I spent the rest of the day in the teacher's room grading papers while other UMD students rotated in and out to help while the grading in and of itself was far more challenging than I had anticipated.  The open-ended questions about the Fifth Amendment gave us a glimpse into the chaotic, eager and clever minds of KIPP eighth graders.

While I now feel as though I have a solid understanding about the First and Fifth Amendment (woo-hoo Miranda Rights!!), what I think I will take from this day is not at all related to the Bill of Rights.  This insight, rather, came from the teachers popping in to grab a quick cup of coffee or make a copy with huge grins on their faces.  Each teacher who spoke with us embodied the passion and dedication to education that KIPP's founders envisioned upon creating this unique and exceptional environment.  Their commitment to their students' success is inspiring and had I not witnessed it for myself I would've claimed impossible.  Despite the long, rigorous days, these teachers bring an endless amount of vigor and enthusiasm to this educational haven in Gaston, North Carolina!

-Kylee

2nd Day at KIPP

I went to sleep quite early last night so waking up early wasn't too bad.  After getting to the school, the 1st thing I did was help a 5th grade teacher put up posters around her room.  The rest of my day consisted of mostly grading.  This was not my favorite thing to do, but I have a deep respect for teachers who grade and spend basically their entire days at work.  The way the teachers teach is amazing because they really seem to want to teach the children, and when the teachers want the students to learn, then the students will want to learn.  Two things stuck out to me today.  I don't really know why the first one stuck out to me so much since I have already seen how well-behaved the children are.  I was in a classroom and a student ran into the classroom.  The teacher simply looked at the student and calmly told him to go back outside and "try that again."  Without a word the student walked outside and walked back in.  I half-expected the student to put up a fight but he just did as he was told without uttering a word, and for some reason I was very, very impressed.

The second thing I noticed was how down-to-earth the teachers were.  In the classroom, they may appear as disciplinarians, but they are actually really cool people.  Today I sat in the teacher's lounge and had an extraordinarily chill conversation with the teachers about how we would stay alive if we were in the book The Hunger Games.  I realize that these teachers are almost the same age as us, but its nice to know that though they take their jobs seriously, they are also just as laid back.  I have respect for these young people, basically dedicating their lives to teach at KIPP so that students can have a chance at life.  They are doing such a big service, it's impressive.  Well, that's all for now!

-Tola L

The First Day at KIPP-Gaston

Fatigue.  Waking up at 6:15 is no joke, not getting back to the cabin until 7:00 is even less of one when one considers professions; at first teaching seems like a pretty nice gig.  You have winter, spring, and summer breaks and you're inside all day.  But after today, all I have for teachers is a very deep respect.  Especially KIPP Gaston teachers.  Not only are they at school for at least 10 hours a day (if not longer), they have specific cell phones solely for students' homework questions after hours.  They are literally on call . . . but dedication breeds high expectation which leads to excellence.  And clear evidence of this is found in the students.  Today, I met a 5th grader who already knew where he wanted to go for undergrad school, what he wanted to student, and gave a list of potential grad schools.  I'm 19, a sophomore in college, and I can barely find matchings socks in the morning.  Another conversation today is how cooperative the school is as a whole.  The students and teachers were all so nice, genuine, and enthusiastic.  When I reminisce about my middle school days, I remember the chaos of public school, and we had our days in private school.  But the question that is raised is is this serenity a regional thing?  It seems like people in the South are more friendly regardless of the situation . . . the students are so responsible, and they hold each other accountable, it's a totally different mentality.  But there are some things I don't like either.  Like when a student acts up, they're on "bench" and they have to walk about with their shirts inside out.  It's like a Scarlet Letter type thing.  At the 'pride meeting' the benched students must stand in front of their entire grade and apologize for what they did wrong.  It seems rather traumatic, but then again it may be extremely effective.  Another crazy fact is that a graduation requirement for high schools is they have to apply to 6 schools and must be accepted into a 4-year college.  It's a lot of pressure, but then again high expectations . . . Though my first day was really tiring, it was cool observing and interacting with the kids and teachers.  My hand is cramping so I'm gonna stop writing now . . .

TTYL, Raven

First Morning Post

Well, today is the first real day.  Apparently my alarms were on so I'm sorry, Jeremy.
Breakfast was okay: oatmeal and cheerios.  I can't spell so this entry will be full of misspellings (but only on paper: spellcheck words - JDK) Apparently I can't tie my tie.  Also this house is a lot closer to the water than I expected it to be.  Well this is it for me; never been big on writing.

Nick Rosenberg

First Post

We left this morning without a hitch.  Almost exactly at noon, everyone was at Stamp and loaded.  Seb was running just a little bit late, but being the wonderfully responsible man that he is, he texted me well in advance.  I was still inside when everyone arrived, printing reflection and dialogue papers.

After a few turn-arounds, we made it onto 95-S, and headed into Virginia from DC.  We talked a lot in my car, mainly Nich talking about his trip to New Hampshire with the College Convention.  We stopped about halfway down for a late lunch, at Subway.  Pam and I shared a foot-long veggie sub.

We got down to KIPP right at 16:00, exactly according to schedule.  We first got a tour from two eight graders around the middle-school, and from a junior teacher around the high school.  Others will probably write about this more, but the school is VERY organized.  There are "inspirational" words and phrases all over the place, and a ton of college pendants.  After the tours, school let out (17:00), and Robby gave us a chat and introduction at KIPP.

Again, we got turned around going to the Lander's.  Dinner was amazing, Rachel and Jim are great, and we're going to have a wonderful time here.

Ciao - JDK

Arrival!

Hello everyone! We have arrived safely to Gaston, NC despite the stormy hurricane-esque weather. The Landers are especially hospitable and we are excited to start our first day at the KIPP school site tomorrow! Hooray!

Last Logistics!

Hello everyone :)

So last logistics: If you are (short :P) Jess or Jeremy, you will be picking up a van from Motorpool by 4PM tomorrow (Tuesday, 1/10)!

Everyone meet at the side entrance of Stamp (closer to the student activities center) by 11:45 AM Wednesday, 1/11.

You should have all your payments made!

Pack lightly--the Landers (our house hosts) will have bedsheets and beds available so only bring your sleeping bag if you really must!
Reminder to still bring ur own pillows tho!
Remember to bring business casual clothes to work at the KIPP school, as well as some older clothes/sneakers for Habitat for Humanity on the weekend

Also, we have a meal schedule set up so everyone will be in either food making or cleaning up duty every day :)

In addition, Jeremy has borrowed the book Work Hard, Be Nice and we will designate a different person to read a portion of the book each day and share their insights at night during our reflection times. You can blog/journal about it too. Since internet is limited at the Landers', we will pass around a journal for the assigned blogger to write in, and once we get back to MD we will post them electronically on the blog :)

If you have educational documentaries/movies, feel free to bring them along

Okay I think that's it for now, see you all on Wednesday!!

Jessica

I’m a senior psychology and English double major, interested in teaching as a career.  I became passionate about education and the achievement gap when, through a series of research papers in my freshman English class, I learned about the inequities in our education system.  Growing up in a suburban town, I had the opportunity to attend excellent public schools, and I found it appalling that some receive a poorer education just because where they happened to be born and other external factors such as socioeconomic status.  I am currently awaiting the decision about whether I will be accepted into Teach for America, but regardless plan to pursue to teaching – specifically in a high-need area.  I also interned at KIPP DC my sophomore year in a 5^th grade reading class.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and look forward to working with the children of Gaston.

Sebas

I want to take part in service because I wholeheartedly believe that direct acts of kindness are powerful enough to change lives.  I receive motivation from the simplest of compliments because they are recognition of my dignity.  Since others may have a diverse set of internal and external struggles, I want to befriend them, understand their perspectives on a personal level, and work with them to help find feasible solutions.  Education provides critical thinking skills that lead to innovation and progress.  As an aspiring teacher, I want to talk about course material with students and encourage genuine thought and progress.  Each and every interaction with a student should be rooted in dignity.  By creating an environment where students feel welcome, I can let students at least temporarily take a break from struggles and focus on academic and cognitive development.  Service allows for an enhanced identity.  Since we always change, I want to continue improving my identity.

Nicholas

My name is Nicholas and I am going to be a criminal justice major in the spring. I wanted to go on this trip because of my unique education experience. I went to Montessori Elementary and Middle schools and at a young age I was diagnosed with ADHD and a learning disability. In the Montessori program I excelled even with my learning disability and this resulted in acceptance to the Science and Technology magnet program at the best high school in the area. Due to the expectations of the program and the weaknesses of the accommodations I was given my experience in school became less enjoyable and more difficult. I had some great teachers along the way which has caused me to consider an education minor or double major. I particularly enjoyed my math, science, and music (my favorite) courses. If I was more musically gifted I would have chosen the major. I'm interested to see how KIPP operate and compare it to my personal school experiences.

Sebastian

I was born in Colombia, South America, but I grew up in the United States. I first lived in Chicago for a year and then moved to Maryland. I have played soccer my whole life and have also attended private schools my whole life. For this reason I feel like I am a pretty laid back, fun, and understanding person to be around. I enjoy working with kids, preferably in sports or other active learning activities. Now that I am at the University of Maryland, I am double majoring in Communications and Government with a concentration in social influence and international relations. With my degree, I want to help the educational systems in impoverished countries develop and bring opportunities to those kids who have potential but no open doors to succeed in life.

Anne

Hi! My name is Anne and I am an elementary education major with a math emphasis at the University of Maryland, although I wish I was in secondary education and math. I figured out (too late to change my major) that I really want to teach slightly older students. Right now I'm thinking I want to teach somewhere between 4th and 7th grade. As an education major, I have participated in many discussions about school experiences and found it interesting that most people don't have many specific memories from middle school, presumably because they were so embarrassing that they have blocked them out. I do have many specific memories from middle school and would want to try to make those awkward times in middle school slightly less painful for students.

I love working with kids of all ages and on any topic. I tutor in three different schools in Prince George's County every week, each of them Title 1 schools with largely Latino populations. I am a mentor with America Counts, tutoring 4th grade math twice a week. On Wednesdays I lead a group from Alpha Phi Omega, the co-ed service fraternity, to a program called En Camino, where we tutor students from ages 4-15 in all subjects. I work as a camp counselor over the summer and I used to lifeguard. I've taught everything from art to swim lessons to basic construction.

I've always wanted to be a teacher. I love the idea of having a job where every day is completely different and I can really feel like I am making a difference. I'm from Glenwood, Maryland, and had the privilege of attending one of the best public school systems in the nation. The area used to be fairly rural, but is increasingly being developed. I am interested to see how different, rural school systems differ from the one that I attended from K-12 and the ones I tutor at in Prince George's County. My goal is to gain as many perspectives on education as possible before I get my own classroom with my own students.

Min

I am a student at University of Maryland, College Park. I am a sophomore and majoring in Government and politics. I love being a part of community. It is very nice feeling that someone is there for me to help. I would love other people to feel the same way that they are not left out. I also was benefited greatly from community, and I think it is a great pleasure to give back at least what I had received. I believe that doing something good will spread around the world. I signed up for Alternative Break program to Gaston, NC because I could help and learn at the same time, and I liked what the trip was about. I have great interests in education and youth development. I believe our young generation is our future, and schools play very important role. Knowing this trip is about exploring rural education system, I was curious about how different education systems could be because I grew up in city and never had a chance to experience the difference. What really interested me was that this trip was about addressing “the issue of the gap between students of low-income areas and those of high-income areas, identifying the root causes and discussing its impact on both the Gaston community and our local community” (Alternative Breaks). I thought it would be something that I cannot learn in classrooms, but on the field. I believe working on the field in KIPP will broaden my perspective and teach me many. Also, I would love to learn different aspect of our education system that is different from mine.

Tola

I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, but moved to the United States at the age of four.  I am a sophomore at UMD and a psychology major on the pre-med track.  From the time I was a child, schooling in America, I knew I wanted to study science and become a doctor.  It was not until college that I discovered the public health sector of medicine.  I believe that one of the most important aspects of public health is education, especially education at a young age.  I did this program because I would like to participate in a team working to educating children especially in underrepresented areas because the children that we teach now are the future decision-makers of America.

Jeremy

I am on this trip for a variety of reasons.  The main one is that I value community service and public policy action – it is one of my highest ideals.  As for education, I value more of the style and thought of the lessons than the content – while learning specific things are of course important, discussing and accepting (or rejecting) different philosophies are so much more important.

I am a junior studying Anthropology here at Maryland.  I am most interested in environmental anthropology, which studies the interactions and relationships between a culture and its environment, including natural, artificial, and superficial.  While at KIPP: Gaston I hope to observe how the students interact with their school surroundings, and try to compare their experiences with my own.  My educational upbringing was very privileged.  I went to one of the best elementary schools in the county, and while my middle school was not near the best and was going through very significant changes while I was there, my high school was and still is one of the wealthiest and most privileged high schools in the county as well; I took multiple AP courses and formed close relationships with many of my teachers.

This trip is the highlight of my winter break, and with this experience as both a leader and a new "education-service" participant, I look forward to what doors this trip will open for me and what other opportunities I will be presented with in the coming semesters.

Janie

I’m Janie, and I am majoring in Second Language Education at UMD as a graduate student.  After getting my bachelor’s degree in Beijing, China, I came to UMD to further my education, determined to be a teacher.  Therefore, I really hope this trip could help me to understand the educational system better and give me inspiring ideas on how to help these children.

Michelle

My name is Michelle and I am a senior majoring in Elementary Education.  I believe that education should be accessible to all students, include hands-on experiences, and encourage student inquiry.  I wanted to go on this trip because I am interested in learning about alternative education programs, as well as seeing success in schools in an area where many schools are struggling.  To me, making a difference in education is the best investment for the future of our country, and I hope that I learn a lot from this trip that I can bring into the education system.

Kylee

I want to take part in this trip because as someone who hated school from an early age, I realize that I would not have many of the opportunities that I have now if I had not had a strong and supportive educational system challenging me throughout middle and high school.  While service and community building have always been a part of my education, it is only since coming to college that I truly understood the inextricable relationship that exists between the two.  I look forward to learning more about myself, the students, and their educational experiences during our week in Gaston.  I am an economics major, and while one of my favorite subjects is math, I also enjoy working with reading and writing skills. 

Melody

I am currently a graduate student at UMD pursuing a master’s of education in School Counseling. I received my bachelor's degree from UCSD (University of California, San Diego) with a major in Psychology and minor in Education, and since then I have been focusing my career interests in social justice in the school system. I am currently serving as the coordinator of UMD's Office of Multiethnic Student Education (OMSE) Mentoring and Weekly Academic Honors Program, which supports African American and Latino male freshmen students and helps them in their academic endeavors. My current graduate program has an emphasis on working in low-income urban neighborhoods with diverse populations, and I believe strongly in the efforts for student advocacy and equitable treatment among all races. This year I have the wonderful opportunity to serve as the staff advisor for UMD's alternative break to Gaston, North Carolina. In my spare time (when I find it) I enjoy photography, reading, and baking.

Raven

I was interested in the Gaston trip because I knew I could contribute to the educational aspect of the trip with my interest with tutoring and overall love of interacting with people. Also, through my high school I met a couple of graduates of the Washington, DC KIPP School so I also had heard about the charter school and how they prepare their students. I also wanted to be on the trip because I wanted to do something constructive with my winter break besides working the whole time and I wanted to meet more people from UMD who were interested in giving back to the community. I felt that it would be a good growing experience and get me closer to figuring out what I want to do with my life.

From KIPP, I hope to learn more about the charter school teaching system and how it is different from other public and private school educations. I’m torn about whether I want to pursue a career in education or social work and I feel that being immersed in a school in a teaching position would help my decision. 

Pamela

My name is Pamela and I’m a junior at the University of Maryland. I am majoring in Romance Languages (specifically French and Spanish) and doing a minor in International Development and Conflict Management. I am from a small town in Western Massachusetts and have gone to an incredibly small public school with the same group of people since kindergarten. I received a great education, and took particular interest on the issue after being exposed to new approaches to education by working with a non-profit organization called Little Friends for Peace and tutoring students at a local elementary school. I love the outdoors and sports, especially running and soccer and thoroughly enjoy reading and writing, especially creative writing! I am always up for a challenge and love seeing things from new perspectives. Although I am not sure of my future goals, I wish to make a difference in the world by working with a non-profit organization or in the field of international relations. 

Jess

My name is Jessica and I am a senior psychology and economics major at the University of Maryland.  I’m hoping to go to graduate school for a PhD in school psychology.  Since I came to college, service has been a very important part of my life.  I am so excited to go back to Gaston because the teachers, students, and environment at KIPP motivate me to always act in accordance with my values, pursue my dreams, think deeply about issues of social justice, and try to put others before myself.  Outside of school and service, I enjoy gymnastics, coaching, running, swimming, and spending time with friends!

Biographies

The following fifteen (15) posts will be our biographies!  In alphabetical order by last name, what we all wrote for Robby and the KIPP community.

Countdown!

3 days until DEPARTURE! hope you're all getting excited!
Here's a message from Robby May (KIPP coordinator):

Dear Terps,

In just three short days, you will be on the peanut field of KIPP Gaston! My name is Robby May and I will be your intern coordinator while you are on our campus. Since I asked all of you to write a short bio for me, I am sending you a short official bio of myself: J

Robby May is a 2009 Magna Cum Laude graduate from Frostburg State University, in the mountains of Western Maryland. He has a Bachelors degree in Social Science, concentrating in Political Science and 20th Century History, with Secondary Education Certification. Additionally, Mr. May has a Master’s in Education from Drexel University concentrating in School Administration. He is a certified teacher in grades 6-12 Social Studies in the State of North Carolina. He graduated as the University's top student in the Social Science Dept. and received a perfect score on his PRAXIS Social Studies teaching examination.
Prior to coming to GCP, Mr. May student student taught 7th grade geography  11th/12th grade AP US History and AP Psychology, in Western Maryland. Currently, he is in his third year teaching at KIPP Gaston College Preparatory where he teaches 8^th Grade Political Science & Economics. Additionally, he is the Founding Director of KIPP Gaston’s Show Choirs: the AcoustiCats (middle school), KIPP Infusion (high school) and Southern Sensations (Men’s Chorus). The Show Choir program now has over 60 members and has won awards at the Kings Dominion Choral Festival. He is a 2006 graduate of Westmar High School in Lonaconing, MD. He has been a lifetime Boy Scout, and is an Eagle Scout, an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), a summer Christian camp director, and former student member of the Allegany County Board of Education. He is also actively involved with the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) program.
Mr. May has first hand experience working in the government working as an intern for Governor Robert Ehrlich of Maryland, paging in the Maryland General Assembly, and interning for President Barrack Obama at the White House. 

Enough about me! From reading your biographies, I cannot wait to get to work with their awesome diverse group of young men and women. We cannot wait for your arrival! Over the past several years, University of Maryland Interns have made a huge impact during their short time here each year helping the staff with so many jobs and tasks.
When you arrive on Wednesday, students will guide you on a tour around campus and you will have some time to sit and observe in classrooms. At the end of day, I will lead you in a short orientation to your time at GCP and answer any questions you may have. Throughout your time here, I look forward to leading reflection time with you as well as pulling in some special guests to meet and have Q&A with you.
In preparation, I have prepared a packet for you that tells you a little bit about KIPP and KIPP Gaston. It is attached. I would ask that you please take time to read over it before arriving on Wednesday. No need to print it out, as I will have copies for you on arrival….just read over it J
Additionally, and completely optional, I would highly encourage you to read the book Word Hard. Be Nice about KIPP. I know you can’t read it all before, but it will provide you will a much greater understanding into KIPP….and generally is an AWESOME book. It is available in ereader/Kindle format.
I hope all of you are excited…..you are going to have an AMAZING week and I am positive you will learn a lot. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with questions prior to your arrival.
See you on the peanut field!

Best,

Robby May   

8th Grade Political Science & Economics

Founding Director of Show Choir and Young Men’s Choir

KIPP Middle School Social Studies Community Leader

KIPP Gaston College Preparatory – Pride High School