Today was the day!

In all of the trainings, classes, discussions, etc. that teachers attend - the essential question always comes down to, "How do you know that the student gets it?"  I'm thrilled that I work in a district in which the student is the center of the focus, and where the focus is on how we know that a student understands.

We talk, in jest, at times - in saying "Trust me, you'll know when it happens."

Ladies and gentlemen, today was the day.  Trust me - it happened.

We've been working on the routines for reader's workshop for five weeks now.  We've been tracking how long we've been 100% engaged, learning how to use our voices, working on what good readers do, etc.

Today, I finished our mini-lesson, and then worked 1:1 with a couple of students.  At the end of my second readers conference, as I was writing some notes about how it went, my ears tuned in to the productive chatter happening in the room.  I heard kids talking about their reading.  I heard kids coaching on each other with how to pronounce words ("Try saying it with the other sound.")  I heard kids reading to someone with voice and expression.  I cautiously looked up -- and saw the same things I heard.

I've never had 100% of my kids *SO* actively engaged, for so long.

Of course, I celebrate these kinds of things.  I had to pull out my camera and start taking photos and video.  Even with that minor distraction - I still had total engagement.  I loved walking around asking kiddos what they were working on, and actually having them tell me.  In detail.

It gave me goosebumps and brought tears to my eyes.  As a teacher, it's amazing when you recognize that all the things you're trying to do are making a difference.  That the students are finding value in what you're trying to show.  That all the time we've spent on routines and procedures pay off in the end.

I can't wait for Thursday when we get to do it all over again.