This is GREAT!

So, the good news is, I have definitely made the right decision.  Every second in the classroom is another moment being exactly where I want to be.  I didn't think that I had made a mistake, but it is nice to have that confirmed as I spend three day each week in the classroom.

I realize that I am incredibly lucky to have the most wonderful co-teacher.  She is supportive and lenient.  She guides me and helps me.  She lets me success and fail.  In other words, she allows me to learn!  I hope that I am helping her out and not adding to her load.  My goal is certainly to be a help, not a hindrance!  My added Leadership Roles in the classroom and the time spent working on their genre writing have certainly not eased Mrs. Strayer's life, but hopefully I am taking enough care of the work that it hasn't actually added!

The big job that I have taken on in the class is leading the genre writing each unit.  This time around it has been narrative writing, and the students have been writing an 'autobiographical sketch'.  I don't believe that they have done many big writing projects, and initially my assistance on carefully going through every step (graphic organizer, rough draft, typed draft, final piece) was not celebrated, but I think that the light has dawned for some of the students, as they have realized just how much better their writing has been through each and every step.  I am slowly wading my way through over 100 drafts to give the most powerful feedback that I can garner, before allowing them to edit their final pieces for submission.

Once I have their final drafts, I will then post all of them to the class website that I have built for our homeroom - talk about authenticity!  Their work will be out there for their parents to see and to share with their family members as they see fit.

It is a lot of work going through each draft, noting, commenting, adding, suggesting - but they have worked so very, very hard for me, that I feel that it is the least that I can do!  It would be a little easier if I didn't have homework too, but honestly these kids have become my priority now - it is them that matters, far beyond my GPA.  I can't wait until I can spend 5 days a week with them.

Not long now!