An idea

So, someone once told me that a good thing to do when teaching is to keep a journal of at least one good thing that has happened every day. And one thing that could've been done better. Since my life is currently school and cheerleading and I haven't got a lot else to document here, I am going to attempt to write my one good thing and my one thing I could've done better every day here.

Today's good thing (though not super classroom related):

One of the school's secretaries (aka: woman who knows all information I could need) knows how to do calligraphy. I have desperately been wanting my invitations to be addressed in calligraphy, but it didn't fit in our budget. She offered her services to me today and when I offered to pay her she was insistent that I not "hire" her, but that it would be her joy and pleasure to do it free of charge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!

Of course, I will do SOMETHING super nice to thank her.

An extra good thing (that IS classroom related):

During one of my fifth grade classes- particularly the one that always looks at me like I'm from another planet when I talk about Latin- gave me great encouragement today. After giving helpful hints for how to recognize person, number and tense in a verb, a girl raises her hand and says: "Mrs. B. You make complete sense. That last 5 minutes you were talking is the best I've ever understood this."

And others chimed in, with one girl saying, "Yea, I can't believe I ever thought this was hard."

What a relief, especially after my "what I need to do better" for today...

What I need to do better:

Find a way to explain Latin verbs/conjugating to third graders without making them want to cry.

Also:

I need to make "guided notes" for the students to follow along with and fill in as I teach. Since I think their curriculum sucks (which it kind of does) and since elementary students don't really know how to properly take notes/write on the paper in a spatially correct way... guided notes- made by yours truly- would be helpful.