Last Post

Throughout the last half of the time we spent in Kiana we continued teaching language arts and social studies. Teaching middle schoolers was much more exciting than I thought it would be. They were a lot of fun and full of energy. One of the last few days we did some creative writing with the kids and I was surprised with how open they were with expressing their feelings in poetry. We were making concrete poems which are poems that are in the shape of an animal or object that the poem is talking about. Thursday, we got to dance with the kids in gym class and I was impressed that every kid participated with only a minor amount of complaining. We were totally taking up their basketball time so I was afraid that they wouldn't be interested in dancing. The last day of school, Friday, we had a going away party after class. The students made pizza and a few of them brought some dishes from home such as dried white fish and caribou stew. The last day in Kiana we went out snow machining with two of the teachers and some of the kids. The kids seemed shocked to see us out sledding on the hill having races and a few of them went home to get their own sleds. I was really sad to leave the school. The kids were so polite and they were so much fun in class!

I've been home for almost two weeks now. Thinking back on my experience in Kiana I would be very excited to teach in rural Alaska and I have been applying for and pursuing job interviews. As of now I have an interview scheduled for St. Mary's school at the job fair. I'm really not sure what will come of it but if anything it will be a chance to practice interviewing. I am a little worried that I had way too good of an experience in Kiana. Every thing was just above and beyond my expectations... does that set too high of a standard? I think that having a rural experience is very important for educators in Alaska but I also worry that most of these teachers who come up from the states have no idea about what they are getting into. When I arrived in the village I really wasn't shocked or surprised about the living conditions or the problems that are alive in the village. I think that if I had never been to Alaska or didn't know much about it I would be very surprised. I think that the concept of village in the United States is a very foreign concept. 

In the end, I am so happy that I had this experience. I would eventually like to have the experience of teaching in a rural area and I feel like I would be prepared for it. If I don't end up teaching in rural AK next year I would at least like to focus my master's project on something related to education in rural AK as I feel very passionate about education in my home state. 

Halfway Point

WEDNESDAY

I don't want to leave :( It's only Wednesday though...

Yesterday we got to see a variety of classes. We visited the math classroom, which was very very organized. I was surprised to see the kids competing to get the right answers. In such a small classroom there are personal vendettas against each other as to who will get their worksheet done first (with all of the right answers.) In the tech classroom yesterday, we got to see a whole different side of the kids. They were much more relaxed and the class was filled with both laughter and extreme concentration on the task at hand (which was building a circuit board.) In this class we heard a lot of the lingo that the students use... I joke, look see, try come, go help me! Rachael talks about this more in her blog... 

Today we are visiting science. It still just amazes me how eager these kids are to learn. There is very little classroom management because the students come in, sit down, and immediately start getting to work on the problems. They are volunteering answers and questions left and right. They argue over solutions and one 7th grader in particular shrieks and giggles over everything in class. You can't say she doesn't have fun at school. Everyone wants attention from the teacher. These are dream classes.

Yesterday Rachel and I heard the funniest thing. One of the kids came up to us and said quiet seriously... "Do you know how to do grievance counseling?..." I was confused and thought he was serious... so I replied "No... I've never studied counseling." Then he shoots back, "Oh, because I'm going to be grieving when you ladies leave... :) " I keep busting out laughing when I think of him. It was so sad and so funny at the same time.

Today was a pretty laid back day though. We taught our English again and worked with some small groups that were making presentations in history class. It makes me sad, because after only a few days we know most of the kids names and random little things about them.

One thing that is still confusing me is the word cheese. Rachael and I were reading a poem about a kitty eating cheese and every time we say the word cheese they break out in giggles. I'm not sure if it's just... cheese is funny... or if we say the word strange? They keep bringing it up too and I ask them "What! Is it funny when I say that word?"... and they burst out in giggles again. CHEESE!

Like I said in my last post, the trooper is in town. He keeps the school as his home base and runs around town checking out different issues, responding to rumors, investigating stolen property. I did not know that troopers are required within their first five years of service to spend two years in a rural area. He is based out of Kotzebue and makes monthly trips to some of the different villages. We sure learned a lot from him about his job and what he deals with. One of the funniest things was, well first of all, we've learned that a lot of the locals raise their eyebrows as a way to say "yes." Now... being a trooper, he is recording audio of what goes on between him and the people he is questioning. He said that a lot of those conversations go something like this...
Trooper: "We're you ____________ last night?"
Suspect: ........... (raises eyebrows)
Trooper: "You're raising your eyebrows.. does this mean yes?
Suspect: .......... (raises eyebrows)
Trooper: "The suspect raises eyebrows in response to both questions... it is confirmed that he is saying yes..."

... he later said.... "try explaining that to a judge..."

City vs. Village

TUESDAY

Living this far away from a large city has both an upside and a downside. Sunday while we were out sledding I laid out on the river bundled up in snow gear, staring at the sky. It was a beautiful day and while I laid out on the ice, I couldn't hear a thing. The entire world around me was silent. I wish I could do that every day. On the other hand, the favorite past time here is going walking or watching TV. I think that living out here you really need to keep your connections to the outside world while still finding hobbies, outdoor activities, and people to socialize and entertain yourself with within the village. Yesterday Rachael and I brought some fresh pineapple and other fruits to the staff meeting - someone commented "I haven't seen a pineapple in a long time, well... except for the ones I grow on FarmVille!" I think a lot of people grow "farms" out here. :)

Day 1 at Kiana High School

MONDAY


Mmmm.... coffee... I've always denied being a coffee addict but I think I may be slightly dependent on it...


Yesterday was exhausting. We got up early and walked around the school introducing ourselves to the teachers. Rachael and I have been thrown in on the front line and have been assigned to teach English for the week. Yesterday Rachael and I read the class a poem "Ode To Mi Gato" and then read them a version in Spanish (which we frantically translated before class.) They really like to hear other languages and the kids were totally engaged into the poetry lesson that included a poem about a cat and a poem about a dog. There was lots of giggling, sharing of drawings, and talking about their pets. The Social Studies/English teacher has been assigned to be our contact point so we spent all of yesterday observing her classes. She is very passionate, caring, and extremely patient.


I have to admit I'm a little jealous of these classes....
1. The classes are so small, 8 or so kids tops.
2. The kids are so comfortable with each other - there is no fear of presenting, working with each other, or sharing ideas.
3. They're pretty eager to work - sometimes I feel like I'm herding cattle at home, but these kids are ready to go! Especially the middle schoolers
4. They're so incredibly kind and laid back. The teachers have no real issues with stepping out for a second to grab something from another room. Everyone continues working as if nothing happened. 


I also love how laid back the school is. I get to wear jeans! Staff meetings are an absolute hoot. The teachers are hilarious. I think that every teacher has a few screws loose (myself included) but out here I think there is so much more freedom with what they can teach and how they can teach - the classes are full of energy yet more relaxed than at home. They also talk about some huge issues in class. I can see how some rural teachers wouldn't feel comfortable going back into the urban schools. I also find it interesting that pretty much none of these teachers are from Alaska, and for most of them, teaching in rural Alaska has been their only teaching experience.


After school Rachael and I were so tired that we basically passed out on whatever we first landed on in our room. Two or so hours later we woke up feeling like we had been hit by a car. I think that all of these new experiences, new information, running around town... it's just exhausting.  Mrs. Nagy (our contact teacher) invited us over for dinner last night for soup and corn bread and after dinner we went on a long walk out to the cemetery.


I'm feeling a little conflicted right now. I really like this so far... a lot... but could I do it for a year or more? There's a lot I want to write about... the real inside accounts from teachers, the frustration, sadness,   achievements, setbacks, the passion each teacher has, the reality of teaching in rural Alaska. About two years ago when I was working in the School of Education I received a phone call from an author. She just so happened to be wanting to write a romance novel about teaching in rural Alaska. I'm not sure who I forwarded her to, but it seemed like a joke to me. There's nothing "romantic" about it but it sure seems like an absolutely rewarding and exciting experience that I'm finding myself more and more interested in.

Sledding

SUNDAY


I was worried that we would spend a lot of time entertaining ourselves today... but the time sure flew by. We woke up at about 9 and cooked bagels and hot tea for breakfast, then we decided to explore the village. It was absolutely silent. Apparently everyone was sleeping in after attending a wedding last night.


We had a few visitors today. First, the tech teacher showed up and talked to us for a good hour or so. We mentioned that we wanted to go sledding so he went out on a mission to find us a sled. Later, he returned with sled in hand and volunteered to haul us up and down the hill. Rachael has pretty intense steering skills, but I on the other hand spent more time on my face than upright in the sled. It was pretty exciting and Jamie took us snow machining around the area in between runs. I think this is the most exercise I've had since August. I'm definitely going to be sore tomorrow.


After we got back, we cooked dinner (chicken and rice) and settled in to do some blog action. One of the other teachers popped in and talked to us for a good while. It's been really eye opening to hear the experiences of the teachers in the area.

Basketball

SATURDAY


Wow.


Rachael and I just got our butts whooped at basketball. We heard some kids playing in the gym and we thought we would go take a gander at what was going on, maybe casually shoot some hoops with our limited basketball skills. At first we were just watching the kids play, they kinda checked out who we were, and then one said, "Hey you girls wanna play some ball?" We did. We lost. Except Rachael changed teams near the end... and won against me and one of the other kids. (traitor)  :)


Now I'm tired. Now it's bed time...


These kids sure are nice though. :)

Fairbanks, Anchorage, Nome, Kotzebue, Noorvik, Kiana!

SATURDAY


We’ve made it to Kiana and I’m surprisingly awake and happy. Our trip had several legs to it. Starting in Fairbanks we traveled south to Anchorage, changed planes to head north, landed in Nome, continued on to Kotzebue, changed planes, dropped Tumi and Sam off in Noorvik, and then reached our destination – Kiana!

Flying into Kiana

This morning went pretty easy. I didn’t actually go to sleep last night… instead I packed, organized, and sat among my things wondering what I was forgetting (which of course… I forgot butter…) Packing for this trip made me wonder what it would be like to pack for a teaching job. How often do people have to go and get food? We packed enough food for one week (two people) but it sure seems like a lot. I think we did the right thing as putting food in plastic tubs seems to be the way to go.

Rachael and our luggage

When we got to Kiana the principal, Sue Johnson met us out by the runway with her son and one of the teachers at the school. Rachael and I jumped in the back of the truck and we headed off. We will be sleeping in the school in the SPED room which has a kitchen, two fold out chairs (that turn into beds!), and a bathroom! We haven't explored too much yet but the school is very impressive looking. They have smart boards and a very nice library among other things. After we put our stuff down, Sue took us out to the village store, where we proceeded to hunt down the elusive butter. The store is very well stocked with a great variety of foods and products. She said that most people just shop from the store unless they happen to be going out of town - then they will bring food back home with them - which is usually 

cheaper. 

Tonight we are cooking ravioli! 

Rural Practicum - 2010

As part of the UAF secondary teaching internship I will be going to Kiana, Alaska for one week! Myself and another intern will be spending some time observing and experiencing life and teaching in a rural village.


Kiana is a city located on the Kobuk River, which flows into the Hotham Inlet near Kotzebue. According to the 2008 U.S. Census it has a population of 403. The city name of Kiana means "a place where three rivers meet." The Northwest Arctic School District's website says:

"It was settled hundreds of years ago as the main village of the Kobuk River's Kowagmiut Iñupiat Eskimos. In 1909, it became a supply center for mines along the Squirrel River. Prior to the formation of the Northwest Arctic Borough in 1976, the Bureau of Indian Affairs high school taught students from Noatak, Shungnak, and Ambler, who boarded with local residents."