I can honestly say that I feel frustrated! I had conferences this week which should be a great opportunity to catch up with some of the parents but I didn't get a good showing. Many of my students are in a slump right now and I'm not sure what to do about it. Our spring break is three weeks away which at this point could be months away. Their quality of work has declined as well as independence. I teach language arts in the afternoon and with a group of squirrely 3rd graders I might as well be teaching French because they can't still long enough to retain the lesson.
I feel like it's the beginning of the year and I am teaching routines and expectations.
Everyday I try to analyze what I am doing that is not working maybe try a few things but it just doesn't seem to work. Then I think about what will be expected of them in the spring when they take the new state assessment and I start to panic because I'm not sure I've prepared them enough. There may not even be an answer to my dilemma or maybe it's just mind set on my part. So, I continue to carry on each day trying to motivate my students to put in the effort.
And so just another day in paradise!
Hey! Your class sounds like my sixth graders right now! Don't worry. It will all work out in the end. You'll see. This is the longest, most frustrating time of the school year -- the long month of March before spring break. I've offered a "comfort day" for students in the past: they work really hard for a week (or 10 days, whatever) and EVERYONE turns in ALL their work AND has no behavior problems. Those that "complete the mission" get a reward of a comfort day. They get to bring in blankets, sit on the floor or comfy seats, play games, puzzles, and read, and relax for a morning (or afternoon) to regain some sense of comfort and also fun in the classroom. If you have a uniform school, get the principal to let the kids "dress down" for the time period, too. We even changed into slippers (inside the classroom, of course). Good luck! Jennifer Sniadecki
ReplyDeleteIt's really hard to hang in there when you feel discouraged. They probably feel that way too! What if you took a day, scrapped the lesson plans (ah! The horror!) and just had fun together? Board games, read jokes instead of chapter books, play card games for math, make art projects, etc. have fun, build up your kids, enjoy them and let their fun buoy you!
ReplyDeleteThis month is a killer for stamina working. Ask you kids what the class should do to step out of this slump. Remind them of all the things they know (such as how to behave and work). What about rearranging the room just for a fresh look. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI wish I had the answers for both of us. It can be so defeating and overwhelming trying to figure out the pieces to the puzzle of so many kids. Keep on keeping on, I know you will.
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