Dear New 8th Graders,
What a week!
Some things I learned from the first week of school:
1. I am out of teaching shape. My feet hurt, my legs hurt and my brain is a little sore.
2. Every class is different, but something about lunch gets every third block I have ever had some energy (awesome)
3. Deep down I think 8th graders still like school.
4. I miss last year's class more than I thought I would, but I am super excited to get to know this years class.
5. Finally, I learned that this class can really write. (great job on the paragraph pretest)
You guys and gals did a great job this week. It was awesome to have every student at school everyday; I know it was only three days, but it makes a difference. It was also really fun to slowly get to know everyone this week. Day one, classes were quiet, careful and a little apprehensive, but by day three personalities where starting to show through one by one. As a class, you guys did great on the paragraph pretest. Your writing showed care, effort, organization and clarity. I could not ask for more.
A couple of highlights for me were reaching some goals and taking some risks. One goal I have this year is to make sure students are moving at least every 20 minutes. I hope I did a good job at this with the musical chairs and other movement things. Another goal I had for the first week is to go through classroom procedures enough that students know what to do, but not enough to bore them with it. I hope I reached a happy medium there. I also took some risks. For example, I was a little nervous about the "By Far the Worst Pupil at Long Point School" skit. I got all kinds of looks from the audience, from big smiles and some chuckles to wide eyes and raised eye brows, like this guy is weird, to some appreciation and applause. I hope you guys and gals feel as good about the first week as I do.
Sincerely,
Mr. Johnson
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