Seriously Outdated

Hello, world!

It's been a crazy few weeks around here. Most of the days have passed quickly, by the generous grace of GOD. For about two weeks we had pretty horrible days every day. Last week I was so frustrated with their inability to sit and do their work that I told them we were going back to kindergarten. I handed them all lined paper and made them practice writing the letter Q becuase that was the letter our kindergarteners were learning. They hated it and I had a much better afternoon with them.

I have a few students whose behavior have gone completely downhill and it's stressful and frustrating. By downhill I mean: screaming, throwing fits, pencils across the room, hours in kindergarten, and counselors having to come to take kids out. But behaviorfally, thankfully, one of them has started to turn back around - due to nightly (and I mean nightly) phone calls with her mother.

PS: I love my students' parents.

On the completely-positive-the-world-has-begun-to-love-me side, my reading group changed and it is the most incredible change. They sit. They listen. They read. They write. They're nice to each other. I don't have to send them to the office for punching each other in the face or crawling on the floor.

Interesting that the teacher who has my last reading group now has a daily helper because those students are too much for one teacher. I wish I had been listened to when I requested daily for an extra pair of eyes and ears because the group was too big and rowdy to actually TEACH. I'm glad that she has help because maybe now those 18 students can learn to read.

AND, oh! oh! We have finally aquired a new, permanent first grade teacher. The new class has had a retired teacher as a sub, but with their permanent teacher coming in we should have a fifth reading group. Then we'd be able to split the lowest group into two and push them along. I can't wait for that.

Today was a relatively good day. I've been giving them snack at the end of the day and that's an incredible motivator for them to do their jobs and pack up quickly. Last week I gave them the smallest cup of applesauce and they all sat in complete silence to eat their three spoons full and then all said they were going to go home and tell everyone I am the best teacher ever. So I went out that night and bought graham crackers and rainbow colored goldfish. Because I AM the best teacher ever.