3 weeks down, 11 to go!

I have finally put a management procedure in place that works!  I was beginning to wonder if they'd ever listen to me as well as they do Mrs. Miller, and classroom management is my main concern going into my own career.  However, during my seminar, I heard about a technique in a Harry Wong video that I thought just might do the trick.  I hold up my hand, and each finger stands for a letter.  I say, "SALAMe!" (pronounced salami) which stands for Stop And Look At Me.  They love it because they think its funny, and so far it has been extremely effective.  It could be super loud in the room, and as soon as my hand goes up and I say one word, its silent.  I'm loving it! I've learned that it takes time to find a procedure that will work, and you may have to use a different one every year, but that's okay.  As long as you find one, you're in good shape. 

Yesterday was a fairly routine day, I can't think of anything off the top of my head that was too exciting.  Today, I gave my students a math test.  When they finished, I had 3 different coloring pages laid out for them so they had something quiet to do while they waited for everyone to finish.  I was given about 6 pictures at the end of the day! It was really cute.  One girl wrote "Happy Valentine's Day Miss Trundle, you're the best teacher ever!"  It made my day!

I have moved further in my Writer's Workshop overhaul.  I am now conferencing with 3 students per day to help them find their mistakes and help them see how to make their writing better.  They seem to love this new form of Writer's Workshop.  I even had the other 2nd grade teacher ask if she could make copies of the "Self-Editing Checklists" I created for my students because she wants to use them in her class! What a compliment.  I plan to have the students give me the final copy of their first story that went through the process and hang them up in the hallway =)  They'll love it, and I want them to feel a sense of accomplishment and purpose when they're writing.

Even after 3 weeks, I'm still in Heaven and loving every day that I'm there! This truly is my calling.