a magnificent monday!

After last week, I really needed a good day and that's exactly what I got. There was nothing special about today, but I walked away from school with a positive feeling, which is definitely what happened last week.

We started a new book in morning reading and they really like it.  It makes all the difference when they are into the book.  They actually read at home and finish the reading they are assigned, which then gets them more engaged, which then gets them better quiz grades.  Plus, it just makes morning reading go faster.

First grade today got a whole new schedule.  Both Ms. Moulton and I had been dreading it all week.  The first graders can barely handle when you ask them to do something in a different way, much less actually changing something on them. So, to ask them to change their schedule was asking a lot, but they went with it and actually handled it well!  We flipped recess and lunch and cut it to 20 minutes each instead of 30.  Then, after lunch and recess, Ms. Moulton pulled the lowest level readers (the ones who basically can't read) and I was in charge of reading a story to the rest of the class. That part was okayyy. They were a little rowdy because I'm not Ms. Moulton and don't have as good behavior management skills as her, but overall, I think this new schedule could work.

The best part of first grade was when KC was coming in from recess.  We put the chart to work and I think it helped. I mean, he wasn't perfect, but we'll get there. He earned one sticker out of the possible two, so we'll get there. One day, he'll get two stickers. I know it.

Then, they gave me enrichment period off, so I could plan for this read aloud section that I'm going to be doing.  We're trying to have some sort of weekly theme and lesson for the books, so we'll read all of the versions about "three little pigs" or whatever and try and find commonalities in them.It should be fun, plus it's like my own thing. I'm excited!  We might even have a guest reader, also known as Ms. Navalance, come in once a week and read. hahaha.

Last, JA was great today in Course Coching. I gave her merits because she was so good.  I feel horrible for her because her mom has been in the Dominican Republic since before Christmas.  She keeps saying she'll come back and both JA's dad, who isn't married to her mom, and JA's sister have bought her plane tickets back and she just hasn't boarded the plane. WHAT?! you have a freaking twelve year old to take care of.  JA is staying with her sister right now, but she's been bouncing around between different houses and I feel horrible for her.  She acts like it's not  a big deal, but it definitely is.  I'm sure it won't be long before JA's dad just says "you're coming to live with me in NYC" and there goes JA.  The last thing she needs is to leave NHCS and go to some public school in Brooklyn. Good lord that girl would go crazy. It just makes me so sad.

Finally, a major shout out to all of my Flat student hosts! Here are some pictures to show what my students' Flat characters have been up to! I'm dying they're so cute!!