1st week down-5 more to go!

Last week I taught four and 1/2 days on my own. It was fun and hard. We got alot done, but I learned by baptism of fire and that is not always a good thing. Differentiation takes on a new meaning, when you are teaching your lesson and you fast finishers have already completed the enrichment you had at the ready and your lower students are still trying to finish the first part. I have a student unidentified on the spectrum who is reacting to the transition of a new teacher. He had the flu at the first of the week, and was unsettled by my style. I have a whole lot to learn about how to meet needs of my students.

All the said, we met as a classroom and created some rules, now posted. We read Flat Stanley and created our FS, wrote letters to community leaders and museums and sent them out. Created a FS to go home with students with a journal for break. We learned about Haikus and created Dragonfly and Butterfly Haikus and drew and painted beautiful insect creations and posted our Haikus. They will read them on Monday when we get back.

I am on my own again on Monday and Tuesday, my mt comes back W-F. I am observed on Thursday. I think I will teach my social studies community lesson. I am loving the kids and the staff community. So glad to have a collaborative environment to work in. It makes all the difference. Can't wait to one day have my own classroom. The more time that I get to teach, the more fleshed out my ideas become. It is truly a reflective practice.

More to come!

Spring Quarter is here!

All last week, I spent in my 2/3 classroom. I didn't have to be there five days until Monday, March 22, but I had a feeling that I should be there with my mt for five days. I was right. I am teaching alone on M, T, 1/2 W and F next week. No sub, just me! While I am flattered that my mt thinks that I am ready for this. I am a bit nervous. I have lessons planned and it is the week before spring break, so Friday we will make art, have cupcakes and make easter/spring cards for their families. I am teaching dragonfly haikus and art as a final lesson to our insect unit. We released the painted lady butterflies on Friday. The FOSS kits get picked up this week. It is high time to start on our community Social Studies lesson and Flat Stanley. I will also begin addition and subtraction with my 2nd grade students. We are going to play some games. I know the pass codes to get attendance to the office, I have bandaids and lots of extras at the ready for them to work on. I am excited, I am nervous, I am terrified. I think that I am ready. So here I go.....into teaching!