Work Hard and Have Fun

prewrite

great week - started newsies - students did well on test - movie night
worked hard - movie night 16 hour day, preparing for newsies, having passion for subject
had fun- rewarding, students on task, students having fun writing, i laugh and have fun

I had a great week with you guys and gals this week; you did wonderful on the paragraph structure test, we started Newsies and movie night was a blast. I was impressed with your test, not only beacuse you did a great job with the struture, but you also improved 100% from the begining of the year and your content was great. I could tell you worked hard over the last three weeks because of the amount you have already improved. What I really enjoyed though was the content. Those of you who wrote about immigration nailed it. You really learned a lot about immigration and more importantly the type of character it would take to survive. Those of you who wrote about leadership also seemed to have learned a lot during the last three weeks about being a leader. Your writing really showed maturity. As well as having a great test, I was super excited to start the Newsies unit. It is a really fun unit, where I see a lot of growth in 8th grade writers. I have worked very hard on this unit and I am excited to teach it. To end the week I had a great time at movie night. Students seemed to appreciate our pirate dodge ball video. We gave out prizes and we made about $200 dollars for field trips this year! This week was a blast because all of you made it fun, but it was also fun because I worked hard.

I worked hard this to prepare for the newsies unit, having energy in class, and movie night was a long day. I love the newsie unit, but boy did it take work. The packet alone took really a year to create, but this year what I really tried to put into it was more researched based writing strategies. So what I mean by that is that I am only using strategies to teach that have been absolutely proven to make you better writers. For example having models of my own writing for you to see, having you show cards of different types of elaboration, and having you look at each others writing. I also have to work hard to have energy in class. I try to show my excitement for teaching in class, but believe me it takes energy. I am totally zapped at the end of the day. Movie night was great, but it was a long day. I got to school at seven Friday morning and I left at nine. Not to mention all the work leading up to movie night creating the pirate dodge ball movie. I am not sharing all this hard work for you to feel sorry for me or to brag, I am trying to make a point that because I worked hard school was fun this week.

Hard work pays off and this week it paid in the amount of fun. First, because I worked hard students, were on task and learning. Believe it or not seeing students learning is really fun for me. You guys and gals did a great job working hard and becoming better writers. That really brings a lot of joy to my life.  Second students had fun while learning. I know it is crazy to think you had fun writing, but I defiantly saw some smiling and laughing this week, and even some shy grins. Finally, because you had fun, I had fun, which was awesome. It goes full circle; you have fun and learn. I watch you learn and having fun, so I have fun. Since I am having fun you have fun. Pretty cool. Thanks for making this a great week, if nothing else I hope we have learned that hard work makes life more fun.

p.s. sorry not my best writing I was trying to keep it short so you would read it, but at the same time elaborate on a lot of stuff. As it turns out that does not work so well.