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