December 07, 2007

Maybe it's getting better

I had the best day yesterday at work.  I think it may have actually been the first day this year that I enjoyed being there.  I was helping DM do his essay, I’ve been helping him write essays for about a month now, and he just wasn’t getting it.  I was getting very nervous about the ELA test in January.  So I helped and he looked at me and said, “I get it now.” I believe he has said this before.  So later in class I gave an essay to the class and off they went to write.  I went over to DM to see if I could assist and he told me again, “I think I get it now”.  So I went to help other students.  I went back to DM and sure enough, he got it!  I was dancing around the room I was so happy.  He really did get it.  Granted, he didn’t answer the correct essay question, but he did write an essay on the story we read.  Now I just have to teach him how to answer the question.  I had a teacher pushing in to my classroom to work with three of my students.  KB who can’t read well or write well, I was working with that teacher.  I was called over to read her work, and sure enough, I was able to read what she wrote.  She made a break through.  Again I was so excited.  I don’t know, it seemed like things started to click for them yesterday or something.  I also have been doing a read aloud with them, and they are so interested, that they would love it if I just read all day to them.  Every single one of my students is paying attention and with mouths opened waiting for what will happen next, a few even have tears in their eyes, I love it!  Not to mention, their behavior has been better, so I can accomplish so much more in the day. 

This was a busy week at work.  Every day this week, we had visitors come into the classroom to talk with my students.  They didn’t mind it so much in the beginning, but I think they were glad to see this group go away today.  I know I was.