Sunday, February 28, 2010
Reading...
Pret just finished Enders Game and really enjoyed it. I have been trying to get him to read it for years and it finally took a cruise to do it. We are hopefully going to finish listening to The Giver here soon, as well. And tonight, I might just read a few pages of Hunger Games. If not today, I have promised Lauren that I will read it on Friday! I can't wait!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Rewards
It's the simple things in life that make me happy and give me that warm, fuzzy feeling inside.
Today, my students, by some miracle, came back from the computer lab and were ready to listen! It was amazing. They were all sitting attentively and anxious to participate. I rewarded them with a "5" point (they get 5 points, they get five minutes of extra recess). Then, we went back to our seats to do a paper (one of the few "drill and kill" things we do, but how else do you practice handwriting) and the kids were right with me the whole time. I just had to give a few reminders.
I complimented the kids and I could see in their faces that they appreciated it. And they continued to try hard. Consequently (and I love when the consequences are positive and not negative), they got 5 extra minutes of an activity they enjoy because there wasn't quite enough time to start something else before they were to move to that anyway.
On the flip side, I have been down for the last 24 hours because I am getting reprimanded for not having a neat and tidy room. Organization at school (and to Pret's chagrin, home too) has been the bane (thanks, Webster, for the correct spelling of this word) of my existance since I began teaching, six years ago. Not often does it impeded my teaching, but does not look good in the show area or to my time management when I am focusing on moving things so kids can sit down at my table rather than teaching them.
But last night, I stayed after work for about two hours focusing on a few areas that were really bad. Afterward, I felt so good about what I had accomplished. It was a great reward. Now if I can just remember that intrinsic feeling and make that my focus of my time rather than wasting it on other things. I was still bothered by it when I was talking to Pret last night. He was late getting home from work and the gym (yucky on-call nights!) so it was pretty late when we finally were talking. I had calmed down quite a bit before that, but talking about it again brought the emotions back to the surface and I got emotional again. I asked Pret for a blessing this morning and in it, I was told that this reprimand was for my good and I should learn from it. Hopefully I will! I'll have to check-in in a few weeks and let you know how I am doing.
OK, this took a bit of a tangent. Really, I just wanted to brag about how well my class had just done. I really have a GREAT class this year! And I sure love teaching!
Today, my students, by some miracle, came back from the computer lab and were ready to listen! It was amazing. They were all sitting attentively and anxious to participate. I rewarded them with a "5" point (they get 5 points, they get five minutes of extra recess). Then, we went back to our seats to do a paper (one of the few "drill and kill" things we do, but how else do you practice handwriting) and the kids were right with me the whole time. I just had to give a few reminders.
I complimented the kids and I could see in their faces that they appreciated it. And they continued to try hard. Consequently (and I love when the consequences are positive and not negative), they got 5 extra minutes of an activity they enjoy because there wasn't quite enough time to start something else before they were to move to that anyway.
On the flip side, I have been down for the last 24 hours because I am getting reprimanded for not having a neat and tidy room. Organization at school (and to Pret's chagrin, home too) has been the bane (thanks, Webster, for the correct spelling of this word) of my existance since I began teaching, six years ago. Not often does it impeded my teaching, but does not look good in the show area or to my time management when I am focusing on moving things so kids can sit down at my table rather than teaching them.
But last night, I stayed after work for about two hours focusing on a few areas that were really bad. Afterward, I felt so good about what I had accomplished. It was a great reward. Now if I can just remember that intrinsic feeling and make that my focus of my time rather than wasting it on other things. I was still bothered by it when I was talking to Pret last night. He was late getting home from work and the gym (yucky on-call nights!) so it was pretty late when we finally were talking. I had calmed down quite a bit before that, but talking about it again brought the emotions back to the surface and I got emotional again. I asked Pret for a blessing this morning and in it, I was told that this reprimand was for my good and I should learn from it. Hopefully I will! I'll have to check-in in a few weeks and let you know how I am doing.
OK, this took a bit of a tangent. Really, I just wanted to brag about how well my class had just done. I really have a GREAT class this year! And I sure love teaching!
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