Saved by the Bell

Since graduating in December and getting a job right off the bat to teach 3rd grade this past couple of months have felt like I've been on a roller coaster. I've been so grateful of having a job but have also felt like a lost puppy. I came into this job after a teacher had to leave mid-year.I love my class and the school that I work at. But, up until today I have felt so lost. Today something finally clicked. I got through all of my lessons and finally have my classroom management skills under control. (p.s. I wish they had more classes on classroom management in college.. I don't feel like I was prepared to manage 20 individual personalities, but darn it I can write good lesson plan.) Anywho, Today I finally figured out what works best for my class and myself. Here's hoping tomorrow is just as great :) On a different note, we started Unit 4 of our Reading Street Readers, (we are a little behind due to snow days and holiday break), I found seller, Sarah Kirby . Her stuff for the Reading Street units is so great. And you can buy each unit for around $16. Her anchor charts are my favorite. This is my literacy wall that I change each week. Happy Teaching!

Jen

Currently reading...

I am head of the Accelerated Reading Program for 3rd, 6th, and 7th graders at my school. Everyday that I have them they have to read to self for a full 30 minutes. The rest of the time we do activities or I read to them. I love reading chapter books to the upper grades because they really get into it. I am currently reading The Watsons Go To Birmingham--1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis, to my 6th and 7th graders. It's a Newbery Honor book. Since MLK day is near I wanted to choose a book to read that dealt with the Civil Rights movement. I love this book, I had to read it in my Children's Lit class in college. From Amazon.."A wonderful middle-grade novel narrated by Kenny, 9, about his middle-class black family, the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan. When Kenny's 13-year-old brother, Byron, gets to be too much trouble, they head South to Birmingham to visit Grandma, the one person who can shape him up. And they happen to be in Birmingham when Grandma's church is blown up". It's a great read! Just thought I'd share! P.S. It's a AR test book and there's a movie, which I like to use as a treat after a chapter book.



Jen