In case any of you are wondering, TEACHING IS HARD! But...I'm still loving it!
This week....tests, tests, and more tests. My students have had to take the DRP (degrees of reading power) district test, and then tomorrow they have to take the STAR school reading level test. While these tests do allow me some breathing time, they also take away a lot of my teaching time. This and last week, we have been learning elements of fiction (setting, characterization, conflict, plot, and theme). Today was theme....which is sooooo difficult to teach.
Assessment, I've found, is really difficult. It's not enough just to teach a good lesson. No, none of that matters if students dont internalize the information and successfully demonstrate that they understand. Then you through in all the variables (English Language Learners, students with learning disabilities and Individualized Education Plans, outside distractions, time/effectiveness of the lesson) and hope for the best.
Today we had a staff meeting and we talked about FLEX (a 20 min period on Tuesdays and Thursdays for students who need extra help). Well, I think my Flex time will be very very busy because half of my kids are failing my class. This depresses me :( Mostly, it comes down to the fact that a lot of them do not turn in assignments. I haven't even given them very much homework, yet they still manage to procrastinate that little bit.
Well, I swear I'm not a complainer. I actually really do enjoy being around my students. I have a lot of kids who come in early and talk. After lunch, I have a line of kids waiting outside my door to come in for class. We have fun laughing together (mostly they laugh at me, but I'm ok with that).
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