ONE YEAR WITH AN ENGLISH TEACHER

Day 19, October 1, 2007

The committee work in 9th grade was very effective today, I thought. We spent only about ten minutes in the small groups, making up sentences that contained unusual prepositions. As I observed the groups, I couldn't help but notice both the enthusiasm and the seriousness of the groups. They laughed, smiled, and lifted their voices now and then as they worked toward their goals. I was particularly happy to see Bill and Bobby, two boys who are often alone at school, laughing with abandon as they decided on their favorite sentences. It seems that I'm on the right course toward my goal of helping the students to learn collaborative techniques this year.

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I didn't plan my lessons well today. I planned way more than I could accomplish, and as a result, I felt somewhat frustrated, especially after my 8th grade classes. I simply need to keep trying to plan just enough to challenge the students but not so much that we all feel rushed, bothered, and dissatisfied.