now I remember why

     I NEEDED to have a day at work like Friday.
     First off, we had an awesomely productive time during language arts.  Orchid and another trusted mentor teacher were in my room for language arts with my class. I was a little nervous, given that my students have their good days and not-so-good days. The last time I had someone watch me teach, he asked afterwards, "Are they always like that?" But the kids were on it on Friday. We had a focused lesson on author's craft on the short novel we're reading. During partner work, Lion and his good friend Green started horsing around. I whipped around and yelled at them. Quarterback, who was working with Lion and Green but not horsing around, commented to me, "You're turning red." (Can you figure out who is the class smartypants?)
     Right after I yelled I wondered -- was it too much? I wondered what the audience in the back thought, too. We debriefed after school and to my surprise, both teachers approved of my yelling, observing that it was the first time they had seen me do it.
     About the yelling -- I had a good talk with someone in admin about my classroom management. She said that after questioning some of my students, she thought they behaved better with Puakenikeni then with me because they could tell when Puakenikeni was angry. Accordingly, I was counseled to work on my intonation and how I talked to people when dealing with misbehavior. On Wednesday, the students were struggling through language arts -- playing, talking, wandering around. I YELLED like I have never yelled in my life. I could feel my face turning red. It felt strange. It didn't feel like me. But at the same time, I realized by my students' stricken quiet that they could tell I was angry. I'm not planning to yell often, but I am starting to realize that an occasional yell can be effective.
     But back to Friday: the second reason it was wonderful was that some of my students, on their own, are starting a book club. Their first meeting is Monday at 7 a.m. in my room. I helped them type up the rules on the computer (I had to smile to see that the first rule was, "Set a good example"). By the end of Friday, they were up to 15 members. I trekked to 3 different public libraries today to pick up some copies, but I will have to buy more copies of their first selection, "Junie B. Jones and that Meanie Jim's Birthday." As a librarian-in-training, I am so excited that my students are choosing to read on their own, and making it a social activity. I will support them any way I can, whether it's buying books in bulk, providing a meeting space, or even thinking up some simple book club activities if requested. My main concern is waking up early: while I started the year routinely breezing into school at 6:45, I've slid to 7:15. Might have to get a new alarm clock and get to bed earlier!