honeymooning

......i really hope that this is not just that.

the students have certainly shown they are getting more comfortable with the school year, but i still feel a million times better than last year.

i have always, no matter how bad the circumstances, been ok with standing in front of a class. last year, the problem was nobody would ever listen. ever.

this year, they are listening.

i believe this is partly due to the fact that i have some idea what i am actually supposed to and going to be teaching on a day-to-day basis. right now we are working on a tommie depaola unit for ela, incorporating writing into that a little bit. i have a pretty sweet writing assignment i think i am going to start tomorrow about heroes. with so many of these students looking up to less than desireable role models, i want to work with them to identify the positive traits that heroes can provide.

math is still a bit of a review, but i was actually able to sit with them today, work with a lesson i had planned (swish) and even do an activity afterwards. i don't think we did that once last year.

having only 6 students is finally affording me the opportunity to teach. i feel so bad for the 4th grade teacher because she has 13 kids. what a ridiculous thing. but, i am very thankful it's not me, because i have a feeling that i wouldn't nearly as positive as i am right now (see last year).

classroom management is not really an issue with 6 students, but there are still some things they will do to push each others buttons that i am going to continue to work on.

may the honeymoon last forever.