Science was better

Thanks for the suggestions Lori. I like the one about selecting a couple of students in the beginning of the lesson to gage student understanding of content so I can adjust accordingly early in the lesson.
I was really nervous about teaching the science lesson on Tuesday because all the students were doing was rubbing rocks together-for an hour!!! But it turned out really well. The students were engaged, excited, and active during the exploration phase of the lesson and attentive during the instruction phase. They had good questions that led perfectly into the next lesson. It was fun! My second science lesson, washing rocks, also went well.
However, my second Reading lesson and first Math lesson didn't go so well. I believe the content of the lessons is too easy, or in the case of the worksheet I typed, too hard. (Even though I took it right out of the teacher's edition) I should have used it as a whole class rhyming activity instead of an individual thing. But it is something I can bring out in a future lesson and do as a whole group activity. (maybe use "movie talk" where students answer as if in a silent movie-silent talking only)
I have either felt confident with the lesson or the classroom management. My goal is to have both lesson and classsroom management come togehter by the time I am done with this practicum. I think once the content of the lesson is up to the student's academic understanding I will half the battle one. I realize student behavior is not strictly based on a good lesson. But I feel that if they are interested they will be less likely to find other things to occupy their mind, hands, mouth, brains....
More to come as the practicum continues.

HELP

This blog is mostly for those of you who have more experience in the classroom than I. Today I taught my first lesson this semester. Can you picture a crash and burn? The lesson was a review for them but I didn't know that so the students were bored. Any suggestions? What classroom management techniques have worked in your classroom? When they have gotten loud and out of control what have you done to bring them back? I teach science tomorrow, then reading on Wednesday and alternate like that until Friday. I'm sure glad my advising professor didn't decide to come observe today!!!
Now some good stuff. Last week I asked Patrick and Stuart to give me a blessing because my back hurt. It more than just hurt, it was debilitating. I had hesitated to ask them because they were both just ordained an Elder less than 6 months ago, and I felt they weren't experienced enough to "say the right thing" so I could get a good blessing. I kept getting the impression to ask them because it's predicated on Faith not Experience. So finally I exercised my faith, got the blessing and am better. The lesson for me was about faith. It doesn't matter how long they have had the priesthood-it's the same priesthood whether the man has had it for 50 years or 50 minutes.
Last question, are there actually any "papers" involved in the mission papers? Paper as in-made from tree pulp. Stuart is supposed to fill out some forms online.