Management, then Learning

I did a lesson today and it went amazing. A bunch of students have IEP's in the class I teach in and the first time I taught it was horrible. This lesson I went in there and listed the expectations and had the students moving and I addressed the issues and explained the activity and set them loose. The two students that are behavior issues I immediately addressed in class by asking them just for today if they would behave for me, and they did. Once I was done with my bellringer and expectations/explanation, the students worked individually and in groups to construct their own learning and all 23 students were engaged. I didn't know what to do with myself because usually someone needed my help but this time they didn't need me. And when they did the assessment, they did really well. They didn't have the material down perfect yet, but they were confident and they did well. I was really impressed.

I was saddened though by one little boy in the room. I did the lesson and he had fun in the group, but I gave him the individual work and he put it away. I asked him where the work was, and he said he had put it away to do at home. I told him that was unacceptable and he had to do it in the room and if I saw it put away before I instructed him to do so, that he would get a demerit. The choice was his. Then under his breath, I heard him say, "I can't read." I turned around and acting as if everything was casual, I sat with him for two minutes and orally read him the instructions, and he did the assignment. I returned for about five minutes and I read number one, and I helped him read number two, I read three, he read four, etc until he was done. It was the first time he did his work all year, and my teacher was impressed by this. He was a bright kid, he just never had anyone take individual time with him to help him so he was lost. I understand its best to serve 22 students than to serve just one, but doesn't every student count? However, the design of my lesson and the students being engaged and pushing themselves allowed me some time with him. I stayed with him for may be a total of ten minutes, but it made all the difference.

I'm not saying I'm the perfect teacher or my lesson was perfect because I am far from it - but once the classroom was managed, the learning fell into place. I feel hopeful to improve because today was amazing. I had fun, more importantly the students had fun, and I left the school with energy and I did not feel drained. The only other thing I could have asked for was for Dr. Faulkner to have observed that lesson. Today has reassured me that this is what I want to do with my life.