Chalk It Up! Avani Patel

A s part of the Chalk it Up to Teachers campaign, Teach for America and Experience Project bring you this teacher's story.

Corps Year: 2007

Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Davis

Hometown: Los Altos, California

Placement District: Ravenswood City

School: San Francisco 49ers Academy

Grade/Subject: 8th Grade, Math & Science

 

What is it like to teach in East Palo Alto?

Students in East Palo Alto are some of the most incredible students I have ever met. Despite the negative connotation often associated with the community—despite notable improvements over the past ten years—these students still have incredible pride in where they come from. You can almost feel it reverberate in them on a daily basis! The students here also have different and amazing personalities and come from so many different backgrounds: Samoan, Tongan, African-American, Latino, Fijian are just a few. I learn something new from them about their families and culture and community every day, and I mean every day!

 

What personal goals have you set for yourself?

I really hope to stay within the realm of education in some way. As I begin my time in the corps, I can’t think of doing anything other than teaching. This year, in addition to leading my students to 80 percent mastery of 85 different skills needed for proficiency in the 8th grade math curriculum, it is my goal to make a personal connection with each of my students by the end of the year. I feel as though this is one of my strengths and a way to get students more invested and engaged. Looking to the future, I am also interested in promoting more advanced diversity curriculum and instruction throughout the K-12 public education system in the State of California.

 

What has been the most memorable moment of your

teaching experience so far?

I was teaching a lesson on adding and subtracting positive and negative integers to my 8th grade math students.

During independent practice, one of my students yelled out, “I GET IT! I FINALLY GET IT!” I replied with a “Great, I’m glad,” and she kept pleading her joy—”No, Ms. Patel, you don’t understand. I learned this last year, but I never understood it. I get it now, it makes sense.” The light bulb is a beautiful thing!

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