Teacher in the Yellow House: My Year on a Montana Reservation

After losing her job and with 12% unemployment, the only job Luella could find was teaching on an Indian reservation in Montana - negative-degree temperatures, no car, no internet, no Starbucks - it was the best thing that could have happened to her! Her story follows the hero's journey of leaving the familiar and venturing into an unknown territory, facing obstacles and challenges, finding purpose, and bringing new knowledge back home. Her story begins with a road trip. Her best friend, Dolores drove her and her three cats up to Montana in a U-Haul. After 18 years of teaching under her belt, the reservation experience was unlike any teaching position she had ever experienced. Winning her students over was her primary task and through various methodologies Luella finds her purpose and reason for being on the reservation through producing a student-directed film about the mission statement of the school. Students were involved in all aspects of production under Luella's mentorship. Luella takes the reader on two journeys - an outer journey filled with Native American rituals and traditions including field trips, powwows, sweat lodges, healing ceremonies and an inner journey of forgiveness, acceptance, and reconciliation. It follows the everyday life of a teacher and gaining the acceptance of students and approval from administration and being recognized for a job well done. It is about patience, tolerance and teaching by example. This book will touch the hearts of young teachers, veteran teachers, administrators and students.