2 days!

There are 2 days until break! 2 glorious days!

It is Sunday night and I have to admit it was an enjoyable weekend. I relaxed Friday night, spent Saturday doing homework and celebrating Thanksgiving with some CMs, and today cleaning, working, and reading (I am half way through book 2 of HP...). Now, I am in bed and it is well-before my bedtime. I am finishing my night off playing online and reading. This is positive thought #1.

Last week was another really difficult week. I went to school sick on Monday, called in sick on Tuesday, and had to give a standardized test most of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. My students were out of control and I was losing my mind. By Friday I was physically and emotionally drained. How is this positive? Its not, but even in all of the chaos I found a few positive things....

#2: One of my students who started the year as a non-reader read our morning message almost perfectly. He didn't even stumble on tricky words like "literacy rotation" or "mixed up." I cannot even begin to describe how proud I am of him. I am tempted to re-test his reading level now, just to have some quantifiable measure of the progress I have observed.

#3: In one of the several rules and procedures talks of the week I told my students, "You have to help me. I want to teach you what you need to get to 2nd grade, but you have to help me. You can help me by listening, keeping your hands to your own body, and always doing your best work." Unfortunately, this talk is less effective each time it is given. This time, however, one of my boys who aspires to be a class-clown raised his hand and says, "Miss Prinzo, I will help you" and gives me the cheesiest grin possible. I couldn't help but smile.

#4: Help is on the way! I asked our school's literacy coach for help with management. After explaining to her the frustration and stress I have been feeling, she told me that she is going to do what she can to help--whether it be team teaching for a few days, modeling management, practicing behavior strategies, etc. she will be there! She is an amazing teacher and I am excited to be able to work with her. I also will have my own teacher's assistant for a week post-Thanksgiving! My mom is coming from cold, snowy NE Ohio to help keep me sane for an entire week. She doesn't know it, but I have quite the "to-do" list for.

Happy Thanksgiving!