Who was my inspiration??

The following post is a letter/email I sent to my 5th grade teacher:

Tanya Snyder-

My name is Amber Hanson.   I used to be one of your students when you worked at Kitsap Lake Elementary in Bremerton, WA as a 5th grade teacher (1998-1999).  My younger sister Sabrina was also in your 5th grade class, but the following year. 

Although you may not necessarily remember me, I have something important to tell you.

As much as it saddens me that i had not kept contact with you over the last few years, its wonderful that i was able to find you now.  I am currently a teacher in the Bering Strait School District in Gambell, AK (on Saint Lawrence Island). 

You made a difference.

Whenever someone ever asks me who has influenced me the most in my life...your name always swam in the back of my mind.  You may not have realized it at the time (or you might have, i really don’t know) but my home life back then was not great at all. As a result, I didn’t care about school, family or life. 

When i entered into the doors of Kitsap Lake Elementary in September 1998 it appeared that this school was no different from the last, that this would be just another year, just another grade, and you would be just another teacher.

But you weren't.

You saw something in me back then...that i didn’t see in myself.  Unknowingly you created an escape for me.  I used to stay after school to help you set things up for the next day (some may call that a 'teacher's pet').  You also helped me with my science project that year...(we looked closely at how to siphon water from one container to another). 

Through your actions and through your words, it was evident that you honestly believed in me, and as much as i had always told myself that i couldn’t do anything right, that i was stupid, and that school didn’t matter, you were there to tell me different. 

I entered the 6th grade with a totally different outlook.  I loved school and i believed in myself and my ability to succeed.  I believed that i was different, that i was smart and that i mattered.  Although my home life still didn’t improve (it wasn’t until my senior year of high school that anything changed) I had an escape from the tragedies of growing up.

I just graduated with my Bachelors degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education and moved up to Gambell Alaska for my first teaching job.  So far this year has been a wonderful experience, and i am so happy i chose to become a teacher. 

My biggest goal in life is to make difference in a child's life, to let them know that they are unique, that they are smart, that in spite of outside circumstances, they really can succeed and make a difference as well.

In my life, you did just this, and it really has inspired me...every day of my life.  I only hope that i can become half as great of a teacher as you were back then (and probably still are).

Thank you so much for believing in me. You have no idea how much it meant to me.

Amber

And the countdown begins!

23 Days!!!

23 more days until I step foot on the glorious land of Washington State, where the trees are abundant and I have the capability to drive almost anywhere I desire.


It’s been 4 months since I began my journey in Alaska, although I have loved almost every minute of it…the excitement in the pit of my stomach grows everyday as I approach the flight date of December 18th. 

The anticipation I feel is a mix of nervousness and excitement of seeing family and friends again…a world I took for granted while I lived there for the past few years.

Although I have yet to really feel ‘homesick’ since I’ve been here, I can admit that I do miss Washington and the people in it.  I have made many tentative plans while visiting down there…most of which I will not have time for…but I still hold hope! 

Thanksgiving was not the same without family this year.  Yes it was nice to have a feast with the teachers here, but I still missed getting together with family and rehashing old memories of when we were all younger.  With this yearning for family, my anticipation grows for my family's Christmas celebration when I come home.

After Thanksgiving dinner with the teachers I went to the community dinner at the big school.  I was amazed at how many members of the community showed up.  Most of the foods were foods I would have seen on my own Thanksgiving table, with the exception of Reindeer stew.  This was the first time I’ve tried Reindeer, but I must say it was delicious!  I hear that this is one of the regular foods present at the community Thanksgiving dinner (can’t wait until next year!)

This long weekend will be filled with relaxation and sleep.  I also intend on writing a 5-year plan in which I list my goals for the next 5 years and what exactly I need to do to get myself to that point.  (I am actually super excited about this!)  Hooray for a 4 day weekend!!

Yumm...apple pie

What a nice week. 

Tuesday I had a visit from the Curiosity Corner facilitator (my curriculum) and she observed me all day.  During our debriefing at the end of the day she said ‘that was one of the…no wait…that WAS the best implementation of the curriculum that I have ever seen’  Wow, what a compliment!  She even asked if she could video tape me next visit so she can show other teachers (she works for several districts).  This type of compliment was just what I needed . I always feel like I am never doing a good enough job, that everyone is doing a million times better…but this made me finally feel like I DO know what im doing : ) yay!  Also, had my evaluation the next day from my principal…pretty much nailed everything!

Unfortunately not all things in my classroom are rainbows and flowers…sadly enough attendance has been a major issue.  Gambell is known to have horrible attendance problems, but I have never expected this.  I have 11 children enrolled in my classroom; on any given day I have about 5 students attending.  Last week I had an average of 2 or 3 children.  Something needs to be done…therefore I plan on starting a new step next week.   Each night the gym is open for kids to play in at the big school.  For older students if they are absent they are put on ‘gym list’, which means they cannot go there and play.  Well, the other teacher in my classroom noticed a new of our children who never attend…going to open gym….sooooo…starting Monday Pre-k children will be put on gym list if they do not attend school that day. Also, starting Monday I will be calling each child’s family at 930am if they are not present…and asking them where the child is at.  My method? Annoying them each and every day until their child is coming on a regular basis.  Wish me luck!

Last night Gambell teachers held a carnival at the school.  Each teacher had to have a booth where they were to raise money for their class (each teacher is a class advisor for a particular grade).  For carnival I decided to do a Dino Dig booth where children would sift through sand to find bouncy balls, different colors meant different prizes.  I anticipated this booth to be a total flop…but apparently…children really like sand!  I ended up make $193 just on my booth!  I had so much fun calling to kids to come over to my Dino Dig, and it was fun to act super excited to just get kids to come over (I mean hey…we all know im like that normally…so it wasn’t hard)  I really thought this night was going to be boring and uneventful…but it really was a lot of fun, Im already planning for next year!

Today was fantastic…this week was a long week…and I was exhausted (especially because last night was the carnival)…and it was wonderful getting to sleep in.  I woke up a few times last night…but always so happy because I knew I was able to go back to sleep :D  I had so many crazy awesome different dreams last night.  (a total of about 6 different dreams that I can partially remember).

Now I am sitting on my recliner in my sort of living room…catching up on emails…and waiting for my delicious apple pie made from scratch to come out of the oven…as well as my cinnamon raisin bread to finish baking, i think i'll make some homemade whipped cream too…today was a lovely day :)

Sleepless in Gambell

This week has been so much better than last week.  To begin with, last weekend Gambell School had a Halloween dance for the kids.  I attended to help chaperone the dance.  Not too many children dressed up, but I sure did!  I was not going to miss out on dressing up for Halloween, as I have not done so for nearly 10 years.  I went as a bushel of grapes : ) 

Although I cannot remember specific events of this past week, I know it was ten times better than last. This week went by quckly, and before I knew it it was Friday.  We had Karate early that day (4pm) as there was a basketball that evening.  Karate was great, I am so excited for January.  In January we can test for yellow belt! 

I helped in the student store during the basketball game, is it sad to say that I actually miss working customer service-food service?  I felt natural helping work with the seniors, getting orders and completing them.  Its amazing too, obviously up selling has been engrained in my head for so long that when people bought a pizza I always asked if they would like a drink as well with it (fantastic enough, most actually thought a second then said yes)  I do hope to help with the concessions next game.

My sleep schedules I very off, I am still having difficulty sleeping at nights, and I find myself still awake at 2-3 in the morning (even on weekdays)  I really don’t know how to fix this…as my body will just not let me fall asleep…oh well…

Alas, I will now attempt to rest my head again..it is 2am Sunday morning..perhaps I will get up fairly early tomorrow in hopes that I will be tired with night comes….good luck to me…