Thoughts on blustery Friday night...

So this week there were lots of joy moments and frustrating moments... My kids are LOUD... so we are REALLY working on voice control. It's interesting to me because when it gets too loud some kids start complaining about it. Very interesting because they are sometimes the loud ones. This is something I continue to work with them on...

Some of my kids were very cheeky today. I have 6 students in my room from my k/1 split last year. So this is their 2nd year with me. Most of them are great but a few are really struggling to listen when I get serious about their behaviour. They kept smiling and giggling... I need to get mean I guess... Also I need to rework my table groups. I have a few STRONG bossy kids that need to be separated... and some goofy kids that just are not a good combo... today one of my k's from last year... now grade 1 came and told me that I need to separate a few girls at the table next to her who were fooling around. ha she is a little miss wannabe teacher.

Daily 5 is going pretty well I guess. My little autistic guy really has trouble staying reading his books the whole time. We reached about 9 mins. Some have trouble with the whisper voice but most are great at getting lost in their books and lots forget they are even in the classroom. I am thinking about adding Work On Writing next for Daily 5. Ha I need to clarify the Read to Self to my kids more... they think Daily 5 is just reading. ha. And oh do they love modelling... hahaha I had one little guy come over and whisper in my ear that he had a GREAT idea for when it was his turn to model the wrong way to do Read to Self.... I love that they are thinking about what is right and what they are not supposed to do... and the self correcting and the self evaluating they are doing when we check in really amazes me.... not all of them are quite with me but lots are...

I really need to spend more time writing about the wonderful things that happen in each day and the struggles. I started to at the beginning of the year but haven't had much time or energy at the end of the day. I don't have much time during the day to sit at my desk and write. Constantly on the move.

I am REALLY blessed to have a Grade 12 student working with me this year as part of her Christian Service Hours. Basically volunteering in my room. But it's fabulous. She is great with the kids and I get her on Tues and Fri for an hr and Wed all afternoon. I have 3 half day EA times which is so helpful when I need to try and circulate with other kids and they can be helping my strugglers. I am very blessed & thankful!

I have a little guy in my room who is an EAL student. I had him last year and he REALLY struggled with his English and communicating and his work, but I had a full time EA to help him. He has REALLY improved with his communication but now we are getting to the point with some sounds where he needed one on one help again. Its so cute when they really appreciate the help and don't take advantage of you helping them.

I had some very cute moment with my little Autistic guy today.Let's call him J. He was actually trying to joke around with me today. He's so polite and tries so hard to stay on task. He's very good at Math and constantly is telling me which number we are on for number of the day or anything math related in his own broken little way. I love him to pieces. My other little guy that isn't labeled autistic(lets call him C) but shows many of the tendancies is a sweetheart also but VERY distracted by playing with his pencils or pencil crayons. always making with fly around. when you call his name he snaps out of it and will try and stay on task but then is off in his own little word again. My class is so patient and understanding with them and often will see they are struggling with something and will come over and help help. J can't remember their names but he tries to say thank you. Calls all of them his friends. Its so adorable.


My struggle I have is needed to take a mind break in the evenings from teaching. I can't seem to turn my brain of and am constantly searching for new idea on Pinterest or Blogs or on Twitter chats with amazing teachers from around the world. It's all good I guess because I want to learn and keep learning and that is great but my brain hurts sometimes.... anybody hear me?

I am finding blogging through this year is really helping get out my struggles, beautiful moments and questions and sometimes rants. Thank you to my Twitter friend Karen for inspiring me to start blogging again. It was a great pleasure meeting you this summer. Thanks!!!

Well have a great weekend:) Thanks for reading. And even if nobody is... it doesn't really matter... it's helping me clear my head:)

Ms. J:)