So when something does actually sink in, it's such a good feeling.
Each year, I teach the kids several math games that they can play individually or in pairs. These games are essentially just skills practice (addition/subtraction/place value/number sense), but skills practice that is far more fun than problems on a worksheet. When I'm working with students who need extra help or pulling small groups, students who finish their independent math assignments can fill any leftover time by playing a math game. To get these game centers working well, the first month or so are spent building the procedures and basic game play rules. I spend a lot of time wandering around, monitoring behavior, and answering questions when they arise with the hopes that after that time the kids will be independent and I can begin working with students who need a bit (or a lot) more time to grasp a concept after it is taught. Not having "stuff" for the early finishers to do is a death sentence to behavior management, so these games are a life saver for me. During that set up month, I hear the the same cheer after winning a game, "Miss Delight! I won Maria (or fill in the losing student's name)!" We have MANY discussions that go a little like this, "You can say you won the game or you beat Maria at the game. If you win Maria, you get to take her home as a prize." And they roll around on the floor giggling at that thought. A day or so later, I will hear the same cheer and this time ask, "You're taking Maria home as prize?" "Nooooooo," they laugh. And the confusion between winning a game and a person continues for quite some time.
Then, just today, two of my fast finishers (we'll call them Danny and Lucas) finished up a dice game. Danny called out, "I won you!" to Lucas. I was working with a small group so decided to ignore it for the time being when I saw the boy sitting next to them lean over and say, "You didn't win Lucas, you aren't taking him home as a prize. You won the game, not Lucas." A smile spread across my face and I made an imaginary "Yes!" fist pump. It's the little things that get you through the days - especially when there are still two days until Thanksgiving break.
I'm sitting here smiling at that whole exchange. I'm sure there are times you have to try hard not to laugh since they'd think you were laughing "at" them.
ReplyDeleteY'all have all next week out? I'm thinking they still have to go Monday and Tuesday around here.
Yes, there are a lot of times I have to keep from laughing. It's not so much because they will feel laughed at, but more because a laugh is often construed as a signal that I want them to do it again and again and again and a hundred more times until it is just annoying. :)
DeleteWe always had only Thursday and Friday off, even when I was in school, but a lot of districts have started taking a week off in October as a "fall break". Our fall break is just tacked on to the two days off at Thanksgiving. It's been a long a haul since early August, so it is much needed and is taking FOREVER to get here.
Comments like that should help you feel better. Thanksgiving is on its way.
ReplyDelete:) It is!
DeleteI'm late to this. Are you off anyplace for the break ?.
ReplyDeleteAre the kids so separated that one class doesn't teach the younger ones.
Hmmm, well they are separate while in the classroom as they are self-contained, but do see older kids at breaks and various times through the day. The only issue with that theory at a school like ours is the older ones' don't necessarily have a better command of English than our younger ones. We're usually the only place where they are even speaking English, so grasping it takes so much longer, and in some cases depending on when the older ones started school, the younger ones may even have a better grasp as they get the foundations with us.
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