Today was our first day of the third week of classes so far and it was a great day! The students are really starting to settle in to the classroom and every task keeps getting accomplished quicker and quicker.

Because it's the first few days of school we have been really taking the time to meet with each student one on one to see where they are with their reading and writing. I have been given the opportunity to work through several assessments with the students and have been learning a great deal of ways that I too can assess my future students. Systems like "doing words," listening to the stories they create as they draw scenes and questionares about their home reading patterns. It is so interesting to see how well some of them can read, write, and explain their stories to me. Eventhough each student is at their own level they all have weaknesses and strengths that I am learning to navigate around. I find myself wanting them to understand and succeed and I am trying to witness as many forward steps as I can!