Time Flies!

In my school district we split the year into three trimesters.  Friday marked the end of the first trimester! I cannot believe that my class and I have made it through 1/3 of the year already!  I found myself reflecting on all that we have done and what improvements I have seen in my kids as well as my classroom set up.

One of the biggest improvement I have seen in my kids this year is in their writing, both stories and in math.  I have spent a lot of time focusing and planning for my math instruction every day.  As a result, my kids are consistently explaining their work and labeling their work as they solve problems.  I have seen my most struggling mathematicians improve dramatically from this instruction.  I have a student who went from no explanation and labels to always explaining what they do to solve a problem, labeling their work, and even sharing out in class without fear of being incorrect.  After repeated small group and one-on-one instruction with another student in subtraction with regrouping, I can confidently say that he can do this independently and no longer needs my support in that area of math.  The list of improvements I have noticed and reflected on continues.  I can easily say that I am a proud teacher.

But, my classroom set up needed some attention.  After living with it for a trimester, I decided that there were some changes needing to happen on Friday.  Take a look at the pictures below of my room set up for the first 1/3 of the year.

I have found that there were too many "blind" spots for me during independent work time.  I allow the kids to work around the room.  I have found that many of them are more comfortable when not sitting in their desk, but at the same time, many find it as an opportunity to "hide" and talk to friends instead of getting their work done.  As a result, assignments were not being completed, and I was having trouble teaching in small groups without having to interrupt them to correct a choice.  My new set up has split the Daily 5 choice boxes around the room (used to all be in one general area of the room).  My kids now have several open areas that they can work in around the classroom.  Take a look below at some of the pictures with the new set up.

Overall, the first trimester has been a growing experience.  I am excited to see the changes that will occur over the next 1/3 of the year.  At the end of this first trimester, I have realized how quickly time flies!  I have accomplished a lot in these 13/14 weeks, but not as much as I would like.  Maybe next year?