I Got a Job!

I have been looking for a job since January...and I FINALLY was offered a job last week!!!! I was very discouraged by all the cuts, but tried not to lose hope! I will now be teaching a self-contained 3rd Grade in a school MUCH larger than the one I first started in. My interview with the principal was more like a 2 hour awesome conversation with an amazing mentor teacher and long time friend! I cannot wait to start working for her because she is so excited and supportive of my abilities to teach ALL subjects in another new grade level! Hooray! I'm going to see my classroom today to get an idea of what I need to move from my old classroom. So excited to start the new school year!

Debbie Diller: Making the Most of Small Groups

I finally finished this book about a week ago...and loved it! I cannot wait to use her ideas, but mostly the lesson planning techniques I learned from the book.
5 Things I Learned from this Book:
1. Have an alphabetized box for anecdotal notes taken on students during small group to look back on.
2. Group students according to criteria chosen (Thankfully she provides criteria in an appendix!)
3. There are all kinds of lesson subjects you can choose to teach during small group (NOT just phonics...I know it seems obvious, but I just couldn't think of anything else to do with my kiddos in First Grade!)
4. Reflect on each small group lesson as soon as it's over! (So you don't forget!)
5. Actually write a lesson plan or guideline for a small group. Don't just wing it! (Is what you're doing REALLY driving mastery of the chosen objective?)

5 Things I LOVE About this Book:
1. She provides plenty of pictures to depict exactly what she means by a "small group folder" or "organized small group space."
2. A lesson plan template for each of the "five essential reading elements" is provided. (!!!!!!!!!!)
3. She has a table that has what to look for if a student needs support, prompts to ask students if they get hung up, and literacy work stations to help students apply their knowledge of a certain reading element. (Can it get any better or easier than that?????)
4. She provides research from SEVERAL sources of why each element is essential.
5. Very easy to read and understand, and LOVE the professional questions to think about at the end of each chapter!

I definitely would recommend this book to all teachers to refresh their memories or learn some new ideas to better educate their students!

NOW my dilemma: to read Debbie Miller's Reading with Meaning or Teaching with Intention. OR Debbie Diller's Literacy Work Stations...hmm....