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Maybe It Doesn't Stop Being Crazy
Dec. 4th, 2017 07:33 pmI’m beginning to think that this year just isn’t going to have a “normal” day. I feel like whenever I sit down to write, all I can talk about how is how crazy everything is. Take tomorrow for example. The morning will be routine: ELA, recess, ELD, but then, it’ll get wonky. Because we have library during out math time (typical Tuesday). Normally, we do math after lunch, but tomorrow, we have practice for our winter performance, which takes about an hour. Then, we have late recess, ten minutes of class time, and RTI. So… twenty minutes of math tomorrow.
And I’m already a little behind because I’ve got some kids who just aren’t quite getting subtraction. I’m leaning hard on them drawing pictures, because a) the standard for second grade is that they use place value to add and subtract, not use the standard algorithm and b) most of them don’t quite get what they’re doing when they’re doing the algorithm. They need that picture to see it. Which is fine, except the book is no longer giving them space to draw, so they think they don’t have to anymore. So, it’s a lot of me working with kids who flat out don’t get it and can’t do it alone while running around and telling those who can do it with a picture to draw the picture and try again. And I only have twenty minutes tomorrow. *grr*
In the meanwhile, my flowers got done today.
link to picture
Alas, I was not able to allow the kids to add glitter to their own flowers. We just don’t have enough time. Luckily, I also didn’t have to do it all myself after school. I had a split class today of fourth graders. The last half hour of school, they were done with their work and bored, so I asked them to do it for me. My room still looks like Tinker Bell exploded, but it was not as bad as it could have been. And they’re done. Yay.
I just need to hold on through Thursday. Then, we have our performance and things get a little less crazy. Of course, next week will be the week before Christmas break, so “less crazy” is maybe too hopeful. But I should have time to teach.
And I’m already a little behind because I’ve got some kids who just aren’t quite getting subtraction. I’m leaning hard on them drawing pictures, because a) the standard for second grade is that they use place value to add and subtract, not use the standard algorithm and b) most of them don’t quite get what they’re doing when they’re doing the algorithm. They need that picture to see it. Which is fine, except the book is no longer giving them space to draw, so they think they don’t have to anymore. So, it’s a lot of me working with kids who flat out don’t get it and can’t do it alone while running around and telling those who can do it with a picture to draw the picture and try again. And I only have twenty minutes tomorrow. *grr*
In the meanwhile, my flowers got done today.
link to picture
Alas, I was not able to allow the kids to add glitter to their own flowers. We just don’t have enough time. Luckily, I also didn’t have to do it all myself after school. I had a split class today of fourth graders. The last half hour of school, they were done with their work and bored, so I asked them to do it for me. My room still looks like Tinker Bell exploded, but it was not as bad as it could have been. And they’re done. Yay.
I just need to hold on through Thursday. Then, we have our performance and things get a little less crazy. Of course, next week will be the week before Christmas break, so “less crazy” is maybe too hopeful. But I should have time to teach.
