Week 2 Reflection

This past week was interesting, with Halloween and half days school work and calm kids were harder to find.  I have had some difficulty trying to finish our SCARED STORIES since everyone writes at different paces, as well as having different strengths and weaknesses.  Some students finished with time to spare while others are still working on them.  We have started a new type of writing now, How To.  We are using the words first, next, then and last to guide our stories.  We were able to practice together by writing how to get ready for recess and how to go trick-or-treating.  The kids were engaged and interested in writing these how to stories because they were things they love to do!  This coming week each student will write a how to story about doing something.  In the end of this lesson we compile their story into a book and each student will have the opportunity to share their story to the class.

During writing there is still a LOT of chatter and unfocused students.  Before writing everyday I reiterate the "rules for writing time"  but they never seem to oxide by them, this is becoming frustrating for me.  This week I will be implementing 2 maybe even 3 differ ideas for classroom management:
Making writing rules with the class, they will come up with the rules, I will write them down and I'll have everyone sign it.
A tattle box where students can write or draw a picture of something that happened that they really want/"need" to tell me about
Classroom dojo
I think with these new ideas the students will see me as a teacher more, challenge me less and focus more during work time.  I see improvement in my students writing and in my ability to wander around the room and check in with more students.  I am very happy since in the beginning I would get stuck with one student or one table during the whole writing time, but now I can conference with more in the same amount of time.