The One With The Switch

It's official.  I made the switch today.  I will no longer be teaching math after this year.  Part of me is very excited.  Math has always been my least favorite subject though I have enjoyed teaching it more than I ever thought I would.

I'm switching to literacy.  Literacy scores are low at my school so this job comes with that pressure.  I know that it is a big job, but this is what my emphasis is on.  It is what I went to school to teach.  I'm pretty pumped about it

We are getting ready to switch over to common core.  I was able to get some resources today at an inservice that made me feel much better about the whole situation. 

I've been looking for some good literacy blogs for middle school tonight.  I haven't had much luck yet, but I know they are out there.

Do you know any good ones?  Maybe you are the author of one?

The One With The Test

My students and I are officially finished with day 2 of 5 of Benchmark Test. I'm pretty sure it is every one's least favorite week of the school year. It is definitely a long and exhausting week for everyone involved.

How is it that administering a test is more exhausting than teaching all day.

Yesterday the students were tested in literacy and today they were tested in math and writing. Can I just say that I have felt like the proud little momma the past two days. Our students have worked their little tails off. I have just been so impressed.

I don't know about you, but I do some of my best planning during this week. What else am I going to do while I walk around monitoring. It is truly when some of my best and some of my craziest project ideas have come to light. I keep paper and
pen at my podium so I can quickly jot the ideas down before I forget them.

One of the things I'm doing for my testing group this week is providing them with breakfast each morning. I know that for some of them that is the only way they will get the nutrition that they need to focus on the test. They have been so sweet and thankful. I feel blessed to be able to do this for them.

I'm curious what are some little things you do for or with your students to help encourage them during big test?