New Teacher Inspiration

Guest Dragon Dropper Laura Agosto, an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, has been interning at Freire this year. The Dragon Drop caught up with her recently about how her time at Freire has influenced her. Here's what she had to say:

Before working at Freire Charter School, I was unsure if teaching was something that I wanted to pursue. After only a few short weeks here, however, I became confident that teaching in a classroom is where I want to be. Over the past nine months, I have learned and grown under the mentorship of many of Freire's teachers and staff members. The care and dedication that they have for their work is inspiring. Perhaps one of the most important things I have learned while at Freire is the value of building relationships of mutual trust and respect. Every time I've seen a Freire teacher or staff member work with a student, they are patient and supportive, regardless of the task. As a result, there is an emphasis on success and growth that allows the student to feel valued. Through their positive reinforcement and commitment to applauding growth (instead of fixating on struggles) the students of Freire believe in themselves and their capabilities.

As a tutor in the Writing Center, I have tried to build these same kinds of relationships with the students I conference with. Being their tutor does not automatically mean I am someone they will listen to or feel comfortable with. I start every session hoping to foster an environment in which the student feels comfortable asking questions and working with me. This can be as simple as asking them a bit about themselves or their day, and in turn, sharing a bit about myself. Even if a student enters the Center with a negative or defeated attitude, I continue to try to connect and motivate. I have noticed that often, their initially sour attitude or reluctance to open up is really a front for their frustration with or confusion over an assignment. I have learned that if I focus on rebuilding their confidence in their ability to formulate and express their thoughts through writhing, their attitude--and their essay!--will improve greatly.

One particular instance in which I have felt the payoff of this effort was with a student who came into the Writing Center with a pessimistic and disinterested attitude. She had been struggling in her class and was told by her teacher she had to come to the Writing Center. She did not want to be there or work with me. As hard as she pushed back, I pushed her to make the session a valuable use of her time and intellect. By the end of the session, she was laughing and actually applying herself. A week later I saw her in the hallway, and she came running up to me and told me with a smile that she got an 85% on the paper. In that moment, I felt fulfilled and excited to be doing what I am doing. It wasn’t just that her grade had improved, but also that she felt confident in her ability to succeed. My experience at Freire thus far has taught me that if you are willing to invest time and care in your students, the rewards can be amazing. It is what pushes me to become a teacher after graduation this Spring.