TESTIMONIALS High School Teacher 8:08 a.m. rings in the new school day at Red Cloud High School. 50 minute periods are the norm, which gives me ample time to introduce the solar system to my applied physics class during first period. Second period I have a prep which allows me time to set up a chemistry spectroscopy lab for the incoming third period college prep Chem class. as soon as that ends, the Biology II class pours into my classroom, anxious to return to lab where they are gram staining unknown bacteria acquired from around the school. The next bell signals the beginning of wonderful, wonderful LUNCH! Then it's back to lab for a second session of Chemistry class, followed by my sixth period study skills class where I have the opportunity to teach Freshman the secrets to success in High School. I have a second prep period seventh hour, which is a nice time to unwind and grade any papers I collected during the day.
Elementary School Teacher
Most of my children enter my room with a smile and sometimes even a hug, sharing stories of the weekend or night before. I usually have a few that are exhausted for one reason or another, and several that have not had breakfast. We have snack time midmorning. Not everyone brings a snack, but I have found that others purposefully bring several and share with each other. This is just accepted as normal and at times is even expected.
At the end of the day, I put the children on their busses and (every other day) hop on one myself to take some of the kids home. When I return, I have work to do in my classroom (everything from grading and preparing materials to calling parents and cleaning the room). Dinner is at 5:45 every day. Some days I go to Mass before dinner, some days I stay in my classroom. Dinner is a good break time. I eat with other volunteers, Jesuits, and Sisters who live here on the Mission. After dinner is usually time to hang out with my friends, relax, play the guitar, and read. (This is on the day that I don't have to go back to my classroom!) Some days I have choir practice at the church in town and other days I visit families in the community. Between 9:00 and 10:00. . . BEDTIME!! I know its early, but I'm exhausted and need my rest so I can get up and do it all again tomorrow! -Tracy Elementary School Teacher Aid
At lunchtime, I take the kids down to the gym (which serves as our cafeteria) where we eat and talk with each other and the other staff members. After lunch, I take the upper elementary grades outside for recess (i.e. basketball) - which lasts for about twenty minutes. In the afternoon, I work in the eighth grade where I usually do filing and grade recording. Sometimes I also help the students' with writing, and other one-to-one activities. When all of their class work is done, we often set some time aside for a game of chess. At 2:30 when sports practice begins, I usually help students with their work in the computer room.
-Jeff
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At 3:07 p.m., the bell sounds for the final time today, and there is a mad rush of students headed for a variety of commitments. The bus ride home, tutoring sessions, sports practices, or games all await them. My afternoon takes me to all of those same places, depending on the day of the week. A few days a week I drive a bus into Pine Ridge to drop off about 40 students at their homes. Other nights I might be tutoring in my classroom or attending a sports event to support my students (or sell tickets). At 5:45 p.m., our entire volunteer and Jesuit communities meet for dinner and relaxing conversation. Tonight I am headed back to my classroom to write a test for a few hours. On other nights I might stay home to watch TV or play some basketball with others in the community, swing out to visit a student at home, or on Wednesdays, I play in adult volleyball league. When all is said and done, I find myself relaxing on the couch in our basement chatting with some of the other volunteers about how our days went, and what we are doing tomorrow.
At 8:00, the bell rings and the controlled chaos that is my classroom begins. I have 22 second graders of all levels and abilities and all kinds of individual needs (academic, social, and emotional). I face many challenges in my classroom each day. Some are the typical ones you would see in dominant society; some are typical but more severe; and some are indicative of the culture in which I live and work. 
Most of the students have experienced hardships that I could never imagine. The issues range from split parents and young mothers to neglect and alcoholism. I teach my students every day, and every day they teach me. During the day, my children have special classes that include Lakota, Religion and Life Skills. We work hard to integrate the cultures. Some days are filled with positive accomplishments, interactions with parents, and little milestones that mean much more than they would seem. Other days I struggle to keep believing that I really can make a positive difference!
Being a teacher's aid and a substitute, I know all of the kids at O.L.L. Our greetings as we pass each other in the halls are one of my greatest pleasures. I am a big part of the kids' lives and each one of them lets me know it in their own way. Most of my mornings are then spent in either the sixth or seventh grade classrooms. In seventh grade, I usually record grades, do some photocopying, or correct homework first thing in the morning. Later, I often help with activities in the classroom, or work with the students on a one-to-one basis. In sixth grade, I do all of these activities as well as teach their social studies classes. As a former archaeologist, teaching these kids about different ancient civilizations is a blast! The kids know how much I love what we are studying, and my enthusiasm seems to be contagious. 
After school ends at 3:30, I often help with athletic events by working at the concession stand, provide security, or driving the different teams to their away games. I also run an outdoors club where we go hiking along the beautiful pine-covered ridges that surround our school and frequently share spooky stories. When the school day is finally over, I usually have dinner and relax with friends for a while. This may be a more simple affair involving just a few of us, or one of our weekly community meals that more closely resemble a Thanksgiving dinner. If I am very lucky, I have just enough energy to read for a little while before I pray and finally go to bed.