Mary Beth Lynn 4/15/13 ELE/SEC 527 Community Walk Reflection It was a hot, sunny day in August when

the seven of us (NTA Resident Teachers) went on a walk around the community where we were about to embark on a new chapter of our lives-teachers in one of AUSLs teacher training academies. As resident teachers of National Teachers Academy, it was crucial that we became familiar with the area before trying to provide a culturally relevant education to our students. National Teachers Academy, often known as NTA, first stood out to us because it had an amazing facility, somuch-so that many of us were concerned the school may not provide an accurate representation of how an urban school functioned in reality. After eight months of teaching, that was no longer a concern. Although NTA had a very nice faade, the interior proved to tell a completely different story. NTA is located at 55. West Cermak Road, between the South Loop, Chinatown, and Bronzeville neighborhoods of Chicagos near south side. The area directly surrounding the school had been gentrified and was quite barren, so there were not many businesses or residences within close proximity to the school grounds, or at least residences that our students families could afford. During our initial walk, I remember wondering where the NTA students lived, shopped for groceries, and even socialized. On our walk, we did locate a church that many of them attended, so that was reassuring. Needless to say, after getting to know our students, we received the answers we sought back in August. About 75% of my students lived in nearby public housing; most of them had been displaced by the demolition of the Ickes and now lived in other housing projects in Chicago.

The other 25% came to NTA this year and lived as far away as 95th Street, because their neighborhood school, Price Elementary, closed due to under-enrollment and low performance. For these students, their commute ranged from 15 to 45 minutes each way. Along with the challenges of a lengthy commute, the new students also faced great encounters while getting to and from school-gang violence. In fact, one of my students was beaten right outside of school and thus hospitalized in March because of crossing a particular gang boundary. After recovering from his injuries, he was then arrested for stealing while on school grounds. This particular student taught me a great deal about the need for urban school reform. Although NTA looks like a healthy pleasant school, what goes on in and outside of it is very dissimilar. The students struggle with literacy, communication, violence, and aggression, and its very common within the walls of NTA. Parents, teachers, administrators, and staff are all concerned about the students, but nobody has the answer; everybody just knows that something needs to be done. How are our students going to be college-ready if they cannot read or do not have a place to sleep at night? That being said, next year when I have my own classroom, I will try to start the year being very honest and truthful about the situation my students are in and the challenges they face as students who attend an urban Chicago school. I feel that it can be both an asset and a barrier, but its a starting point nonetheless. If my students are realistic about their struggles, as well as their opportunities as individuals, then they will have an equal opportunity for success. Something else I will do is build parent and community relationships and invite them into the classroom, because I feel that the more positive influences my students have, the better off they will be in school and in life.