Global Reading Challenge High

Last night Bailey Gatzert Elementary, a school I have tutored at, went to the Global Reading Challenge City Final for the first time in years. I can honestly say that I had a GREAT time!

This past quarter I helped out at Bailey Gatzert by acting as a reading circle book leader. I read two different books, The Warriors and Year of the Dog, with two different groups of 5th grade students. My experience working with these 5th graders was amazing. Bailey Gatzert is one of the schools in Seattle facing numerous educational issues such as a majority of the students receiving free and reduced lunch, segregation, large underprivledge student population and many students in foster care programs. These students were extremely grateful for the fact that I came to hang out and talk books with them, when in fact I am the one who should have been grateful. The students I worked with were very, very bright and excited about learning. At the end of the Global Reading Challenge they made me some 'thank you' cards which I plan to keep forever because they were very meaningful to me.

So once I found out that students from Bailey Gatzert were going to the Global Reading Challege City Final, where 8 other Seattle Public schools competed for the chance to compete with two other schools from Canada and Michigan, I jumped on the chance of showing my support. We rounded up a good group of SU students to go this event. It was amazing! We had huge signs to cheer on Gatzert. One of the students from my reading group was in the 6 person Gatzert team!

While they didn't win it was a great opportunity for me to see how enthusiastic students could be. When I went to say hello to Cindy, the student that had been in my group, she was really excited to see me. She said she wouldn't have ever thought I would come. It made me stoked. All students need is support! It put me in a really good mood. I am more than excited to have my own classroom next year.

Aside from the Global Reading Challenge things are good. I had my first cup of coffee in 7 days after a bet with my roommate. Boy did that soy latte taste great. Thank you Stumptown.

Busy, confused and anxious can only describe the way I feel right now. Ah well...

NYC Countdown: 49

LIFE RULES BECAUSE OF THE FOLLOWING:

- New Wait In Vain track 'Seasons'

-New VERSE track 'The New Fury'

-Bailey Gatzert

-New Friends

-Old Friends

-The Big Apple