Connections

wow. i just realized i haven't posted in almost 2 weeks. school has been incredibly busy, and i've been running every which way. plus, i'm trying to keep my desk/classroom/front table/bookshelves/overhead cart/inboxes organized and clean. let's just say that is not an easy task for me.

yesterday the best thing happened. i am teaching an idiom of the week, and also a root of the week. both of these are vocabulary builders to help with reading and writing. this week the idiom is "pull the wool over his eyes." one of my (already favorite) students was sitting in class not even trying to hide the fact that he couldn't put away his spiderman comic book even though class had started. i rarely have the heart to make kids put their books away. all of a sudden i happen to be standing near him, and he raises his hand. i call on him and he says "the idiom of the week is in my book," and sure enough, it was. i read the whole thing out loud and explained it to the class, and then complimented him profusely on making that connection. these are the things that invest them (and me) in school. last year my period 1/2 was my worst class. now it's my best. it's also my smallest!

the second connection that i noticed my students making was using one of the week's vocabulary words, benevolent, in an essay that they were writing. they used it correctly. it was rad! i was really proud of them, and told them so. i am really excited about that class. one of my goals this year was to make my strategic class better, and i have accomplished that so far. maybe they will start testing me next week--i'm not sure--but i think i've gotten a crop of great kids in there this year.

gotta go teach!!!