cdauwalt's blog

Delta Autumn reflections...

14 June 2008

        Delta Autumn is a book that attempts “to educate first-year teachers about the potential pitfalls of teaching in the Mississippi Delta”.  While I found this book to be very interesting, and with plenty of sound advice, I am unsure just how helpful it will prove to be.  Reading about classroom management is much different than enforcing classroom management.  Reading about successful teaching strategies is much different than actually being able to put those successful strategies into action.  My belief is that time in front of the classroom will prove to be the most effective method of learning those “potential pitfalls of teaching”.   I will, though, be sure to keep a few of my favorite words of wisdom in mind from this book:

When dealing with classroom management issues, Delta Autumn reminds first-year teachers to “make a decision and stand by it”.  I think this is a very important aspect, especially when teaching at the high school level.  Showing uncertainty in the classroom, as the teacher, is equivalent to exposing your jugular to a famished lion.  In my head, I can picture the students first surrounding me as a group, and then attacking me as a group.  Hair would be ripped from the head, body parts would go flying, and screams would be muffled under the pile.  Not a pleasant picture.  So, while my confidence may not always be strong on the inside, especially in the beginning, I must fool my students into thinking I've been doing this for years.  They simply can not see my jugular.

On a more subject-related note, Delta Autumn reiterates that “science is a process, not a collection of facts”.  Science is about doing those hands-on experiments and activities that make biology come to life before your eyes.  Thinking back to my high school days, I can remember the experiments I did, not the lectures I suffered through.  Having the students roll up their sleeves and create science may take more prep-work than giving a lecture, but will prove to be much more effective for my students.  And that is what teaching is all about, after all.  Keeping this in mind will prove to be invaluable.

Along with first-year teacher advice, Delta Autumn also addresses the historical aspect of the education system in Mississippi.  I can't say history has ever been my favorite subject (sorry, history buffs), but even a person like myself becomes interested when the history is so rich, like it is in Mississippi, or like it is on the Ole Miss campus.  I am impressed by how far the education system has come, and I am hopeful for the future.

As a whole, Delta Autumn is not a terrible book.  I has tons of wonderful advice and it does meet the objective of “educating first-year teachers on the potential pitfalls of teaching in the Delta”.  However, until I have gotten the chance to fall flat on my face and then get back up, I will not know what really works for ME in the classroom.

so far, SO GOOD.

The first week in Mississippi as part of the MTC has felt like a solid month.  Don't get me wrong here, I mean that in the most positive way.  I rolled into town on Sunday afternoon after spending plenty of time in my car on the trek down from Minnesota, and was instantly swept up into a tornado of “MTC activities” including, but not limited to: sand volleyball playing (where the 1st years are still attempting to wear out those 2nd years...), apartment organizing, paperwork signing, campus navigating, class attending, advice absorbing and CPR certifying.  Now, some of these activities may not sound terribly appealing (paperwork signing...?) but I assure you, there hasn't been a moment where I've wished myself to be somewhere else.  

This can be hugely accredited to my fellow Mississippi Teacher Corps members, as well as the leaders and supporters of this program.  The organization of the program, not only with the day-to-day schedule, but also with the monthly and yearly goals, makes the “tornado” of activities upon arrival feel much more comfortable than an actual tornado probably feels.  The campus-wide support as well as the various involved school districts' support is also strongly felt (and much appreciated).  But one of the huge reasons the first week of MTC has been so wonderful is due to the alumni, the current and the rookie members of the corps.  The 2nd years and other alumni of the program are extremely helpful in every aspect imaginable and I am simply trying my best to absorb everything (as I have a lot to learn about teaching...) I can from each of them.  And my fellow 1st years, well, I'm glad I'll be sharing this wild ride with all of you.

As far as how the transition has been climate-wise and location-wise... I am from Minnesota where the summers are hot and muggy; I feel right at home in that sense and actually, in a sick way, really enjoy the stifling heat.  The University of Mississippi campus is beautiful, as well as the cute little town square of Oxford.  I was taken to Old Taylor's Grocery where catfish and hushpuppies are the specialty...I tried (even slightly enjoyed) both of them.  They reminded me a little bit of Minnesota State Fair food: the catfish was so deep fried and seasoned you couldn't even see the piece of fish you were eating, and the hushpuppies were delicious fried balls of cornbread.  I better mention that being compared to Minnesota State Fair food is actually a COMPLIMENT to the catfish and Old Taylor's Grocery.   

       You should probably ask me how I am doing again once we have started summer school (next week) and the “tornado” becomes a little bit bigger...So far, though, SO GOOD...