Full Bucket

I had my bucket filled today. I had two overwhelming moments at school today. The counselor came to visit today. She is a great bucket filler. She always fills my students buckets and gets the best out of them. Today she came and talked to my students about bullying and we talked about feelings and words and talking about how we feel. Mrs. Counselor said to my class that we are the best class (love to hear this, but it's not the first time I've heard this from her.... see my heart <3) and she talked about how smart these students are (this is true also). Then she told my class how lucky they were and that Ms. Horn talks about feelings with them more than most teachers.  My memory fails me so I might not quote it correctly. Something to the effect of, "I think this is the class that talks the most about feelings and how to treat others. You are so lucky to have Ms. Horn for your teacher." Talk about filling my bucket. I didn't cry, just almost. I told my class that my bucket was really full hearing that. Then Mrs. Counselor told me as she left our class that would have never guessed I was a first year teacher by the way I handle my class. Aw..... I still didn't cry. But I almost did. I felt flattered and special and good. Like I am doing something good. I felt emotional, but it was all good. I love Pete the Cat. Love, love, love him. He's a hippie just like me.

There is so much going on in my classroom and I want to write another post about it. Here are few random things that really stand out.

• It felt SO GOOD to get back to guided reading groups. 
• There are so many valuable resources out there, and I love my TpT purchases. I started some new centers today.
• It's so hard to re-train kids and parents.  I sent home new folders for reading homework. It's hard to get accustomed to the idea that students should keep reading homework in it's own folder. When I feel so frustrated I make myself remember what it was like at the beginning of the school year. We will all "catch on" to the new homework routines.