Someone has a case of the Mun-days

So the weekends are definately essential and definately too short!!! I am sure this is true of all teachers and professionals!!! So I have found out something really cool. Of coarse I could just be a dork and it really isn't cool to anyone but me....So (and this may be a DUH moment, but I just got it), I have realized that when I show kids something in little pieces it really helps them to get "it." Of coarse there is the time constrant, but I think what I have decided to do is to have several mini-lessons in a day. Like maybe we start off with a little bit of decimals (just the tenths place) and then when we are done with that, they can do flashcards, make-up work, or get further instruction if needed. I am going to try this and see how it works. I hope better : ) Here is to a great week.

Cool Site

I work in a low income city with a majority of minorities. For any teachers out there who may be teaching the same demographics as me here is a great site from a veteran teacher. I am not a "yeller" by nature and I often times feel like I am being mean to the students, but she really helps you feel normal.

http://www.mspowell.com/poverty.html

TGIF

Don't get me wrong. I do love my job, but I couldn't be happier that today is Friday. I am from Texas, so that means football games too : ) I don't think I mentioned previously that I am a fourth grade math teacher. The district curriculum director observed my class today and all I could do was thank God that my class was doing exactly what I wanted them to do. I just kept thinking...thank goodness she wasn't here for third period!!!! I made two kids cry today. I am not saying this because I think it is a victory. I am saying this because I feel insanely guilty for it. The other teachers say just ignore it, but it is so hard. I know that I didn't step out of line. I was overly corrective or anything of that sort. I suppose that this is a tender age for kids. I know I used to be one so I should know right??!?!?! but I am still perplexed by their actions everyday. I keep thinking....was I like that when I was their age. Of coarse not. I was perfect (hahaha). Teachers NEVER had to correct me (yeah right). So now my question is what do you do with the students who never seem to want to do work? What do you do with the students who have the intelligence, but not the discipline? What do you do to help them get that intrinsic motivation to do well in school and academics? What do you do to help them see there is a great big world out there and they don't have to settle for below average or average? How do you reach those kids?

Intro

My crazy first year has been, well, CRAZY!!! I don't think anything really prepares you quite adequately for the first year. Yes, we take classes, and yes, some even have experience in a classroom, but nothing is quite the same as running your own classroom. It is a tremendous amount of work. I don't necessary mean long hours or anything like that. What I mean is lesson plans, meetings, grades, curriculum, test, six weeks test, retest, attendance, breakfast count, restroom breaks, committees, research, training, STAYING ORGANIZED, etc, etc. Talk about multi-tasking to the max!!! Don't get me wrong. I love, love, LOVE my job. But it can be overwhelming at times. I wanted to create this blog for others to know they aren't alone and for reflection on the years to come.