I think they got it

My teaching went really well yesterday (Monday), at least I was told so. This was the first day that I had actually created my whole lesson plan so I felt much more comfortable in executing it. Also, I had planned this lesson with my real-life students in mind. We read a short passage on Cirque du Soleil and talked about how to ask and answer questions while reading. We used the headings to come up with possible questions and then I drove home the point that facts must be backed up with evidence. They loved reading about this special circus and were even disappointed when I told them it was time for lunch (a sure sign that something went right). I also got the chance to work with a small group of students in our Math-Literacy Hour that we will have every morning now. We have them divided into homogeneous groups so that we can work on specifics skills that every one in the group needs. My math group includes Shadia, Christine, Angel, and Danisha. We used individual white boards to practice some subtraction problems and they loved it. I then worked with Crystal, Tionna, Andre, and Jorge for reading. We read a little book on salt and talked about the special features of non-fiction. I really enjoyed working with them in a smaller group like that and I know they liked the extra attention.
When I returned to Temple, I had a leisurely dinner in the cafeteria and met some new people. Sometimes I just ask people if I can sit with them and I usually learn a lot during the meal. This group was comprised of advisors and directors, some who work for the TFA national office. I asked a bunch of questions about how the organization is run from the inside. It was a relaxing and informative dinner.
A short while later, I made it to a professional development workshop called "Pump Up Your Practice!" It was great! They talked about memory tools, music in the classroom, and a few other superb technique. The young ladies that gave the workshop actually taught in Phoenix and got all this information from a 1-week class they took at ASU (do devils!).
I then came back to my room and went right to sleep. I feel rested and ready for another great day at school.