Catching up

So, I know it has been a while since I have posted. After having the flu, and jumping right back into school as soon as I could things have been hectic.

Last week I was able to teach/lead two different lessons. Thursday, I did the morning lesson - which was I read a story as the children transitioned from breakfast (the children all have free breakfast everyday, which is served in the classroom). Before, during, and after the story there were questions that I asked the children. This was guided by the HM book that my MT has. After the story I went on to introducing the new nursery rhyme for the day. For the first week or two we had a new nursery rhyme every day. I introduced "Hickory Dickory Dock". I taught them hand motions to go with it, and followed the words with my pointer. We're modeling how to follow words when reading. After I introduced the new rhyme, we reviewed some of the others we had learned as a class. When my portion of all that was done, my MT took over and showed them how to do the next page in their nursery rhyme books that they made.
Friday I lead/taught the math/calender time. During this time we learn the date, how many days we've been in school (we model that several ways), how many days left of school, the weather, "Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow", sing "Days of the week" and "Months of the year". When I was finished my MT took over and lead them to the next activity, which is gym.

This week I lead/taught the student interview/writer's workshop. During this time we randomly pick a student to have the class draw and "write" about. We have the chosen student tell a few things about themselves that they'd like to share with the class. I then modeled how to write the student's name. I then have the class tell me what things I need to draw to make a picture of the student (legs, arms, hair, nose, etc). I then model writing my name at the bottom, since I made it. I had the students return to their seats and do their own.
Wednesday I spent the morning observing a Kindergarten teacher across the hall. She introduced the new theme - "Look at Us". The reason why I observed is because I was going to teach it the next day.
Thursday (yesterday) my MT was out for a scheduled absense. With her being out, my MT thought it would be benefial for me and the students to have me as the lead teacher for the day. So, that's what I did! This way the students new me, and I new them and how our class has been running. I was then able to be ahead of the game and have my first full day of teaching, with no MT. I feel that now I know I can handle it. It was nerve-wrecking at first, but once the day started, things were fine. I had a sub and a TA to help with children who can't sit still or were misbehaving. I know that having my own classroom will be more of a challenge, but I know now that I can do it!

I truely feel that I have found my "calling" and what I'm doing is right for me!

PS...In our Learning Unit it says to do a read aloud...I did a readaloud on the first day of Kindergarten..and it went well (even infront of all the parents)!