Worried Wednesday !

I am a little worried and nervous right now.

Now I have been a teacher for ten years. I also have been a substitute teacher for the past four years. I also have my masters degree, but I am taking a summer grad class to add to my teacher certification

Yet.... I still get nervous when I have to TEACH MY PEERS!

I am doing a group lesson this evening in my grad class. I much prefer to teach children then my peers. I have been getting supplies ready for the lesson and we are meeting early to make sure everything is ready.

Yet, I am worried that something will not flow and something could go wrong!

So wish me luck.
Send me some " smooth lesson " vibes!

It's Sunday Night !

That's right! Not my normal Sunday night picture, but I am putting my weekly post up! (Then you will understand the cake picture.)

Five Things I am Happy About Right Now:

1. My brother's surprise party was a hit! He really was surprised!

2. I finished my homework (which was making a blog related to teaching) a day early!

3. Two more weeks until the DH and I take a mini-vacation!

4. It was nice and sunny today! We have had way TOO MUCH rain this July!

5. Someone asked me if I have been losing weight b/c I looked skinny... I LOVE THAT!


What are you happy about right now?

Happy Hump Day !

I am giving myself a GOLD STAR today! Here is why:

1. I found some awesome reading websites to pass along to my reading student that I tutor!

2. I finished up my homework early and I have had some play time on the computer.

3. I have been going to the gym without my gym partner... and sometimes it is difficult to go there when I would rather sit in the sun, take a nap, go to Barnes and Nobles and read magazines!

4. I decided NOT to go buy this really cute jean jacket I saw at work on Saturday night. Instead I am saving my money for something I may really need!

5. I have been really trying to see the good in a negative situation that happened two weeks ago.

6. I am trying to listen more... even though my brother told me on Sunday I never stop talking! (MEANIE!)

Anyone out in cyber land have something to brag about? Why do you deserve a gold star ??

It's Sunday Night !

Five Things I Am Happy About Right Now:

1. Today is my brother's 40th birthday! We has a lot of fun. It was great considering one year ago he was going through chemo treatments.

2. I did not have to cook dinner the last two nights - LOL.

3. I finished my grad school work in time to watch my favorite reality t.c. show - Big Brother ( Yes, I am addicted)

4. I did all my tutoring plans for the week so I can relax when I have free time!

5. I am going to a tea house on Tuesday. I can't wait!

What are you happy about this week?

Thoughtful Thursday !

I am having a relaxing Thursday!

My brain is filled with thoughts about tutoring and my grad class. I should be working, but I am doing a little procrastinating, a little web searching, and watching an item on ebay (hee hee).

I had an interesting day yesterday. I went to tutor in the AM and it was very productive! I was happy to hear her sounding out blends as I gave her the word study assessment. She also read 5 pages from the more difficult book aloud with success. I hope by next week, the book is even easier for her.

I had class yesterday and I am now trying to think of a "zine" idea. We have to create our own zine. I am creative, but not artistic, so I am on my way to look for some clip art online.... LOL

On a more postive note, after mt spinning class this AM I wandered around the dollar store. I could easily spend 20.00 in there. I just love the teaching and stationery aisle. LOL

It is nice an sunny today.. and I hope it stays that way for the whole weekend!

I just love summer!

Tutoring !

I went to tutor today. My student took some getting back into the swing of things because she had a fun weekend and wanted to talk about it. LOL! After she settled down, we got to work.

She is ready for her assessment for word study, so I will do that on Wed. We also worked with sight words and I added three more to her list which she will practice. We did a sight word worksheet where I talk about the pictures first before we read the sentences and fill in the blanks. I think all the scaffolding I have been doing really helps.

We began a new book this week. It is difficult reading for her level. I did a lot of reading repetition with the word cards and a picture walk. Then, I had her read the easier text, while I read the more difficult text. and I think I am going to add some picture clues to the story words she struggles with today. We read the story together and will practice it more all week. I also think I will work with the story on Monday so she has it for a whole week.

We ended the session by playing a reading game I made. There are three reading tasks we do as we make our way though the game board. I am going to add some more questions for when we play it on Friday. I also think after this week, I will make a new game, too.

Today she did try to sound out words. This is a good skill, however with the English language after a while this skill harms an older reader when content is more difficult. I think with more reading repetition her reading will become more automatic (as it should

So... Until next time!

It's Sunday Night!!

Five Things I am Happy About Right Now~

1. Big Brother is Back! Yes, I am addicted to this t.v. show! I love the twists and turns. Plus, I keep telling my friends one day I will go on the show. LOL

2. A nice summer walk!

3. Finding letters to help me tutor in the 1.00 bins at Target!

4. Going to our annual taste and eating a chambord canoli ( SO DARN GOOD!)

5. Hearing about a friend's NYC trip which makes me excited about my trip to NYC in August!


What are you happy about tight now?

Tutoring

I had my second tutoring session. I was happy to see how she reread the book I left for her. I am using word study and found a printable book that has a lot of the words from the word study! She was more fluent and only has a few errors. I could tell she practiced yesterday!


We then worked on rereading her sight word cards. She flipped them over and read them aloud to me. She only struggled with two words. She said she practiced with her Mom. YAY! This is a child who needs a lot of repeated practice. Next I had her write her word study words on the white board. She did awesome and only spelled on word wrong.


We then did some reading sheets with sight words. I noticed when she reads, she does have some awareness of reading strategies. She will read a word wrong and self-correct b/c I can see she knows the sentence does not make sense. She is also trying to sound out words, so I know she has some understanding of sounding out words.


The final activity of the day was reading from a basal reader. We read the "new words" for the story, read the story, and answered the questions on the last page. Then she reread it a second time. She was excited about the book and wanted to look through more stories. I said we would use it on again next week. I may do a sequencing activity with the story on Friday.


I also want to find or make a reading game for Friday. I am going to do some web searching tomorrow to figure out what game to play.

Another good tutoring session! I really hope she keeps up the good work & also reads the materials I left for her!

Tutoring

I just had my first tutoring session. I was nervous and excitied as I drove there, but now so happy about the fact that I will be doing this all summer!

I am tutoring a child in reading. I know her from substitute teaching. This is what I learned during my first session:

1. The student has a lot of basic reading strategies (attempts to sound out words) and comprehension in place. We worked on a fill in the blank worksheet using sight words and she said, "This word does not make sense in the sentence. It is suppose to fit, but it does not!" That was because I forgot to pull out the sight word index card for that sentence. Oops!

2. I am beginning with a word study list and after she wrote the first 6 words, she said "they rhyme." She may lack a lot of phonics knowledge, but I know she understands that words have patterns. This is great for using a word study program with her!

3. Reading with fluency is a struggle. We are going to have to re-read the same book a lot this week and maybe even next week until I can move onto a new one!

4. I will have to find reading texts that appeal to her love of animals. She told me she reads to her dog. ( SO CUTE). This may increase her desire to read more.

5. After 45 minutes of an hour session we were both a little spent. This would be a good place to play some type of reading game since the sessions are one hour!

6. I noticed she does read some three lettered words backwards. Is this part of her vision issue or something more??

I am already thinking about Wednesday session! This will be a wonderful learning experience for the both of us!

It's Sunday Night!

It is time to one of my favorite posts! Here is this week's: Five Things to Be Happy About Right Now!

1. Paper Number 2 for grad school, done!

2. I start tutoring tomorrow.

3. Fourth of July = Grilled hot dogs and brownies at Mom's with a night cap of Nascar. ( Yes, I am a fan! )

4. Meeting the girls this week after class! Desserts are Good!

5. A new washer and dyer delivered means no more carting laundry over to my Mom's!


So this week, it was the little things that made me happy!

Thoughtful Thursday!

I am having a thoughtful Thursday. Here are my random thoughts:

1. I have all this reading theory running through my head. It is making my head hurt! LOL


2. I have a paper to write for my class on Monday and I have to design something to go with the concept. I wonder if I am over thinking it. However, how can I over think something when I am not sure I understand the concept in the first place???

3. I really hope I have enough plans for my first day of tutoring on Monday morning. I usually am an over planner, but I am still a little worried!

4. Should I read my homework first or work on the paper/product first?

5. Now that I am back in school, I am having those thoughts of going back for my PhD This is a decision I come back to again and again!