Another One Bites the Dust

Amber at Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher is hosting a linky party called:

 She asks us to share the great and not so great.
My first not-so-great is I don't take pictures at school, so I don't have those to share with you. :)

What I'm happy about:
I tried some different things in my guided reading and I liked how they turned out. I tried HOTS from Anna Brantley

 and liked how those went. I also tried parts of Hilary Lewis' Book Clubs
and again, liked how those went. I think just doing something different, maybe once a month, instead of the structured format of our reading series was a nice change-up for the kids. And threw them off, in a good way, so they have to think a little differently.


I had one little sweetie this year that had been in the class next door last year. Yikes, didn't want him - ha, got him. But his parents told me it was a better year, and I feel like it was, too. Not perfect, but able to connect with him and it made a difference in behavior.

Math was better this year. My centers were more structured and I thought out what I wanted the students to do and review, instead of just having games out to keep them busy while I worked with my small group.

Finding all these wonderful blogs, especially 2nd grade teachers, and Teachers Pay Teachers. I have used many activities that I feel like are a fun way to teach my students.

Not so happy about:
Still want to work on Math and Guided Reading. Want to get better and better at both. During math, it seems I have a couple sweeties who say, "I don't get it." (most frustrating words to me!) Want to continue to find new and different ways to explain things to them.
And Guided Reading - our district has a pretty rigid guideline on what to do - but I want to get better at reaching all my students - challenging the higher kids and pushing the lower kids.

Finally, behavior - at times just wore me out. I want to let more things just roll off my back. I want to find a way to let all my students know that I care about them.  I want to find ways to make sure I don't get sucked into a cycle that spirals down, down, down. And I want to work hard to not see the child as only their behavior.

OK, yuck, that makes it sound like it was terrible. Not really. I had some sweet, sweet, sweeties. And this is the first year I almost started crying when they said good-bye.

I am done for the year, and I'm ready for some good sleeping in, which Did Not Happen this morning - woke up at 4am, which is way too early!

Happy Memorial Weekend
Sara