93

I learned...that for every "scolding" it's 5 steps back and it takes 15 more "praises" to get back to par.

Something great that happened was...seeing the kids really learn the contractions today during working with words.

Something challenging that happened was...having Connor being all over the place - from high to low - and dealing with the fallout from telling us that his dad had hit him, which was a lie.

A question I have is...what do you do with a child who excuses a parent of hurting them, especially when the child is known to fabricate the truth?

I wonder about...how Malachi will be in the long term, socially and academically.

92

I learned...switching lunch spots around is not as easy as it seems. at. all.

Something great that happened was...being able to sign the beam and be with the kids as we all watched it get lifted into place!

Something challenging that happened was...working with Connor on his reading and seeing him struggle over reading his own name. His brain wasn't in automatic mode...

A question I have is...is Malachi really a danger to himself right now or is it attention seeking?

I wonder about...why Malachi and Connor tested so low on BAS compared to what they read in class.

91

I learned...that writing TGIF as the morning greeting can actually offend some children!

Something great that happened was...ending the week on a positive note with the classes behavior overall, great to end on a more positive note.

Something challenging that happened was...having a child hurt himself and say things about harming himself.

A question I have is...when is a child trying to get attention with threats of hurting them self and when is it serious?

I wonder about...how my lessons on contractions will go next week...

90

I learned...that even with massive amounts of waterworks and drama I can stand firm and not give into a kid who was not listening.

Something great that happened was...having Connor actually write using the computer, it wasn't super easy but he did it!

Something challenging that happened was...having to give the class a "talk" about following the rules and behaving like big 6 and 7 year olds.

A question I have is...is Malachi beginning to throw tantrums because he is confused or because he is trying to be ornery?

I wonder about...if our class is about to get the "bug"

89

I learned...that one way to get a bunch of kids who are excited for recess quiet quickly is to have the Vice Principal walk into the room.

Something great that happened was...giving Malachi the Peabody and it going well! Even better was that I was able to score it, all by myself!

Something challenging that happened was...having Bhavya hurt Connor during Center Time, when I was alone in the room with the kids. But again, I managed it.

A question I have is...is Malachi always saying he has to go to the bathroom his new way to get out of the room when he is overwhelmed?

I wonder about...what the Chinese New Year celebration will be like tomorrow, I'm excited.

88

I learned...that solar flairs and a new moon make kids insane!!

Something great that happened was...having my kiddos wish me a happy birthday, give me hugs, and cards, and sing to me today!

Something challenging that happened was...having to lower the boom on the kids and give them the "behaving talk" - not fun!

A question I have is...how do you deal with a class when they are all off the wall and misbehaving?

I wonder about...if the kids will be a bit more balanced tomorrow...

87

I learned...that watching 19 children frolic in the snow makes the Monday blues melt away!

Something great that happened was...watching Malachi do so well on his Words Their Way assessment! Such an amazing improvement since September, I was so proud!

Something challenging that happened was...having to tell a child he couldn't go to the bathroom even though it was an "emergency" mainly because I was 99% sure he wanted because his best friend went 30 seconds earlier.

A question I have is...will we really be able to help Malachi even more now that we have this newest spelling information?

I wonder about...how well Malachi will do on the other assessments I am going to give him...

86

I learned...that watching your class perform in the music concert is one of the most adorable things ever!

Something great that happened was...watching Connor want to perform (and do it so well) in the concert this morning! AND! Watching Malachi do so so so well this afternoon in the LC, what a way to end the week!

Something challenging that happened was...honestly, today was a whirlwind, but I cannot think of anything challenging!

A question I have is...how will all the testing I am about to start on Malachi go?

I wonder about...how snowy the rest of the winter will be and if we'll get a snow day...

85

I learned...that it stinks to play the "bad guy" and punish a child for something as mundane as having to eat yogurt with a spoon rather than squishing it out of the container.

Something great that happened was...seeing the kids work so well with their 6M buddies and finish some great all-about books.

Something challenging that happened was...all the kids being on edge in anticipation of the music concert tomorrow. They were snipping at each other and it was a tense day.

A question I have is...what it really necessary to insist Malachi use a spoon to eat his yogurt.

I wonder about...how Connor and Bhavya will do in the concert tomorrow, as well as the rest of 1L!

84

I learned...when kids are loving what they are doing, they will take up their Center Time to continue working on their work!

Something great that happened was...seeing several of the kids' working numbers go up! Progress!

Something challenging that happened was...having to take Center Time away from Max because he hit Carter on the playground, never easy, but it had to be done.

A question I have is...are all these assessments really as daunting and high stakes as they are made out to be?

I wonder about...what I will find when I begin my assessments on Malachi.

83

I learned...that the only reason why you speak on the risers is if there is a fire or if you need to go to throw up.

Something great that happened was...after brining Nicki her lunch bag in extended day having her run to catch up with me and give me a huge hug good-bye.

Something challenging that happened was...seeing Daniel struggle so much with writing workshop and realize that in the two weeks of the unit he had written one page.

A question I have is...when you are taking dictation from an ELL is it right to take it verbatim to show what they could do?

I wonder about...how much instructional time is lost to putting on and taking off snow gear...

82

I learned...that creativity is great, but it's okay to draw the line when a child tries to invent "cream cheese-chocolate pudding" spread at lunch.

Something great that happened was...being able to ignore a child who was actively defying the rules and continue working with another child who was.

Something challenging that happened was...having to discipline Malachi for so many different issues.

A question I have is...when do you talk to parents about behavior issues and when don't you.

I wonder about...if these children will go on to make a difference in the world after learning about segregation.

81

I learned...that first graders know an amazing amount about topics that interest them and can really write about them.

Something great that happened was...seeing Malachi so excited about reading "Ed" today, it was really heart warming.

Something challenging that happened was...having the kids be so ornery during lunch. I think they spent more time standing than sitting and eating and they just, wouldn't listen, at all.

A question I have is...when do you just give up trying to get kids to sit down, or listen, and just let it be, especially if they aren't doing anything extremely wrong or dangerous?

I wonder about...if Connor will be a bit better tomorrow, even with Daniel out again.

80

I learned...that when a kid is "on" you have to seize the moment and ride the wave!

Something great that happened was...administering my first assessment to Jack and having it go super well and being super excited to see his results and begin analyzing them.

Something challenging that happened was...watching Shane struggle to read the book during reading groups, even when we moved him back into an "easier" level.

A question I have is...what is the reason behind Malachi's good days and how do we capitalize on them?

I wonder about...how quickly the 20 days to the 100th day of school will go.

79

I learned...that even six year olds know that segregation was wrong and that what they did to Rosa Parks was "non-sense"

Something great that happened...Jane thanking me for launching the "all-about" unit so well!

Something challenging that happened...having Malachi downright defy me when I asked him to move his seat during the assembly.

A question I have...is it really wrong that my challenging situations revolve around the same kids most days?

I wonder...if kids really are understanding the civil rights lessons on a deeper level.

78

I learned...that Jonathan has enough English to laugh at slightly bad jokes!

Something great that happened was...sitting down at consult with Jane and Marsha and really talking shop, feeling like I could put my two cents in and feeling like their equal.

Something challenging that happened was...seeing Shane struggle to focus in the classroom because he was just so distracted, even though he knew what to do and how to do it.

A question I have is...is it okay to use things like "if I have to say anything on our walk back to 1L I'll take time off center time" if it worked?

I wonder about...if the testing we're hoping to get for Malachi will really reveal what's going on and ways to help him.

77

I learned...that Jane really does have faith in me and felt 100% comfortable with me at the helm while she was sick.

Something great that happened was...Jane was back! Even though it went so well the past 3 days it was great to have back-up and everything back to normal today!

Something challenging that happened was...Shane and Max goofing off and not staying focused during working with words.

A question I have is...did I explain how to write their all about books well enough to let result in a great finished product?

I wonder about...if the powers at be had any clue that I was rocking it on my own this past week...

76

I learned...that I really can manage a classroom and do it well!

Something great that happened was...really feeling like I was in control today and really feeling like I can do this, plan, teach, manage, breathe, all at once.

Something challenging that happened was...being totally alone during writing workshop and having to support 3 kids so intensively, which kinda resulted in my ignoring the other kiddos.

A question I have is...seriously, how do you teach writing to 19 kids, alone, with no aid, when 2 have behavioral needs, 1 has an LD, and 2 are ELLs? Oy!

I wonder about...if this counts as my takeover week...

75

I learned...that it just being me and the kids for 2 (going on 3 days) had resulted in them really respecting my authority, which is really great.

Something great that happened was...really being in the groover today, day 2 of being the sole (alone) teacher and it feeling really great.

Something challenging that happened was...having Malachi being so out of it and ornery today. It's hard because I know why he is so lost and I have pity, but he is also just out of control.

A question I have is...what is the best way to help Jonathan learn to read the English words he now knows?

I wonder about...if this counts as my take-over weak.

74

I learned...that kids can come back after a vacation and get back into the groove, really well.

Something great that happened was...that despite being alone on the first day back from vacation it went really well and I felt totally in charge and on top of everything.

Something challenging that happened was...being a bit flustered about trying to introduce our new writing topic, I knew what I was doing, I was just nervous. I think they got it, I hope.

A question I have is...how do you re-explain a new topic to kids without confusing them even more?

I wonder about...how tomorrow will go, being alone with the kiddos again.