Thursday, April 17, 2008

Anyone else in a rut?

I feel right now like I am not accomplishing almost anything in my life. I feel that the only thing that I have poured myself into lately is my workouts...I am almost obsessed.

Granted, I know I am doing much for my class...but I feel I can be doing better. We have our annual benchmark testing window coming up and I haven't done any explicit teaching before we take it. I've increased our random sampling which reviews the benchmarks (but in a random order)...so I don't feel like I am teaching the test, but testing them throughout the year. But as the window draws closer, I want to start "teaching" exactly what will be on the test to insure better scores...how awful!!!

We also started a poetry unit and this week I really haven't pushed the workshop as best as I could...that's my fault. I have worked with them this year on inferring themes and lessons in their reading, which some are getting better than others.

Maybe I can push myself this weekend to really evaluate and look at what we're doing next week and really hit home with the workshop. I'll have to update and let you know if I am doing what I said I would do.

Any words of hope???

2 comments:

Mrs. Johnson said...

I understand about the testing. I think we all feel that way when it comes down to it. The results are measured and weighed, which can have a reflection on us. Just keep up the good work and I am sure they will do great.

As far as hope...This can be a stressful time of the year. The weather is changing. Our students want to be outside and so do we. I think I good way to view it as only having a few more weeks with the precious ones I have poured my heart into all year. What do you have left to say to them? To teach them? How can you inspire them? What fun things do you want to have time to do with them before they move on.

Remember they love and adore you and you are having an eternal impact on them!

I hope your workouts are going well! When we take care of our bodies we are much better educators!

Anonymous said...

I read your comment about preparing students for testing. I just got back from a four day workshop with the Public Education and Business Coalition (you know, the group that Debbie Miller, Ellin Keene, and many other came from). It was amazing - Dana went too. We'd love to share what we learned with you sometime. Anyways, a group from the PEBC just came out with a book called "Put Thinking to the Test". It's all about using the strategies to prepare students for standardized tests. If you go to the Stenhouse website (www.stenhouse.com), they actually have the entire book to view online for a short period of time. You may want to check that out.

Hope...I would suggest thinking about what you believe about students and learning, and let that drive and refresh you.