5 steps forward 20 steps back!

Today was awful! 12 of my 18 students were sent home with the school pledge and class rules to write. Some had to write it 10 times each! Reading stations were horrible, We didn't even do Math stations because I just knew they wouldn't be able to handle it. We then went to lunch and when we came back they had their head down so that I could write all my morning notes home to parents. I then only taught social studies to 8 kids because the rest were writing the school pledge and class rules and every time I heard them talking they had another one added. By the end of the day I had 12 students in tears and to tell you the truth I did not feel sorry for any of them they decided today that they could disrespect me and not listen. They proved to me yesterday that they knew the rules and could follow them. My ears hurt tonight, we have got to be getting a storm. I really tried to ask myself if I was approaching today with a negative attitude since we didn't have a special. But they were even really noisy in the hall when we were going to the bathroom. I didn't write any names down which was my first mistake. I had a girl have two accidents today and she had to go to the bathroom three times this afternoon. We are supposed to get through four subjects this afternoon and we barely got through one. Lets hope tomorrow we don't back track more we go forward again. If we back track some more I think I will have to take listening to reading stations away. People will probably condemn me as a teacher and say that I am hurting my students, if I had good classroom management than I could actually do this. If you have something you don't think I have tried yet then throw it at me! My own mentor is baffled with ideas to try with the kids. Also all the special teachers and the Kindergarten para said that this group cannot be let up on one second. When you ask the students the expectations for the class they know what they are and can tell you, but seconds later they are not following them.

Tomorrow I will try the jar of warm fuzzies when the fill the jar with warm fuzzies than we can do a big classroom hug. I truly believe though that the only thing that got me through today was remembering yesterday...

Actions, looks, words and steps form the alphabet by which you may spell character.
Johann Kasper Lavater