Terrific Tuesday

Funny how terrific and terrifying seem to have the same root.

The day went very well. My lesson was a double lesson, combining functions and graphing functions - the pacing chart recommends at least 2 if not 3 days. We did it in one class session, over 50 computations and graphings on the smartboard, as well as bellwork, and I would say most kids got it! My co-teaching class, usually a distracted bunch, got new journals (marble composition books) which got their attention, and in other classes I began using a quieter voice to ask talkers to be quieter or do a specific task. I also incorporated something from the seminar "clap once if you can hear me. Clap twice if you can hear me." The kids have picked up on it, and barring the few clowns who won't stop clapping, it is starting to work. End of the day is still chaotic, and their attention doesn't extend far beyond a minute after getting quiet, and I still get kids who want to argue about "everybody else is talking, why are you picking on me," but that will get better over time.

Today, though, is a chapter review day. I haven't prepared much, and I am pretty sure we have a faculty meeting to discuss the first two chapters of a book - I have actually done the reading - so I will have to use my planning time to actually plan.

Then tonight straight to the make-up meeting for a new teacher session I was never informed about (turns out attendance was around half of what it should have been, so I wasn't the only one not in the loop), then eat and straight to trivia. I will be glad when February is over, as it will signal both the end of this extra time on professional development, Spring Break will be nearer and we will finish out the 3rd grading period.

Oh, and for you northerners, daffodils are in bloom, and forsythia is starting to bud flowers.