Teacher Talk on the Street

David Matteson.  He's the latest teacher talk on the street and he just happened to come to my school to give a training. When my literacy coach told me that David would be giving a lesson in my classroom and all the teachers would watch, I was more than excited! There's nothing more that I enjoy than showing off how smart and wonderful my students are.

Training day. I put on my most adorable teaching outfit and mentally prepared myself for day. It all happened so fast. Coffee in the morning. Chit chatting before the meeting began. The teachers from other schools were pouring into our school library with clipboards ready to take notes. I was getting more and more nervous as the time was getting closer.

Before the big day, I of course cleaned and organized my room, but it's not easy for a large group of people to go into your classroom, look around, and judge.

David was the person presenting the lesson. He sat my students on the carpet, surrounding them were about 20 teachers, a camera crew, superintendent, principals, and me...their proud teacher.

I cross my fingers and the lesson begins. It doesn't come to any surprise to me...but they did awesome! Raising their hands with comments like...

"you need to take out the e if your going to add an ing"

"don't erase, that takes too much time"

"you need to put an e at the end because the vowels says it's own name"

"igh makes the i sound"

"my teacher tells us that we're smart cookies"

The list goes on, but it was great! It's going to on video on his website and I hope to have access and share it with others. It feels so good when my students shine in front of others and reminds me that my job is important and giving it 110% is worth it in the end.

My classroom survived David Matteson. Not all teachers can say that.