First Week Down

I made it through the first week of teaching. Looking back on this week, I am happy to say that I made it through the week and I did get that AHA moment I am always looking for. One of my boys cannot read as a third grader. Everytime I try to help him read, he ends up crying and hides under his desk. This went on for about an hour where he would completely ignore what I as saying to do. Finally, after recess, I called him over to me. I told him he needs to use his words to explain why he was so upset. He said he could not read. I told him that I knew he could not read but I promised him that by the end of the school year, he would read.

Later that day, I worked with him and he read a second grade level book from I Love Reading. He almost could not stop giggling when he realized he was able to read it. I saw that AHA moment in his eyes and I just wanted to hug him. That look in his eyes is exactly why I wanted to be a teacher. The fact that something I showed him made him excited to learn.

My phyilosophy is "I want my students to leave my classroom knowing they have what it takes to succeed no matter what their disabilities are". I tell the kids everyday they have what it takes. I believe it, the trick is getting them to believe it. Any of you reading this that are teachers, please feel free to leave suggestions to motivate the students who do not want to succeed.