Hustle and Bustle...

It seems as though the hustle and bustle of the holiday season carries over into the classroom.  Report cards (round one) are done, conferences (round one) are done, and teaching seemed like it could once again be the only focus in the classroom.  Just when I thought that,  I found my calendar telling me that I was terribly wrong.  This week marks conferences round two and the holidays quickly approaching. 

Not only is all of that happening, but I may have done the craziest thing to myself recently.  I decided to co-present at our districts literacy conference in February.  I am excited, nervous, thinking I may have lost my mind, and unsure about this decision all at once.  I am sure I will share more in the coming weeks and months, but I will be presenting on the concept of argumentative writing within the math content areas.  The focus will be on math and the common core standards and linking them to the writing common core standards. 

So, this week seems awfully busy when I look at my to do list from meetings, conferences, planning, teaching, grading, writing Christmas cards, Christmas parties (3 in three days!), and spending time for myself.  I am thinking that it may not all get done.  So if you are on my Christmas card list every year, I apologize if your card comes at the new year!  Teaching seems to change your personal deadlines an awful lot!  :-)

But, in the midst of all of this hustle and bustle, I am finding time to stop and look at what I have done this year already.  Just the other day, my students felt the need to inform me that I have become a much better math teacher in their eyes.  I was not sure if that was a compliment or not, but I choose to look at it and think about how even my kids feel as though they are learning more now and the work I have been putting into their learning is paying off.  As is true Angela fashion, I am always looking for where to focus my attention next and what to improve on.  It seems as though I want to focus on small group instruction. 

Last week, I spent a lot of time working one on one with many of my students on things they really needed some extra attention.  I didn't get to meet with as many small groups as I would have liked, but the time spend with these 7 or 8 kids last week was so valuable.  I had the chance to really see what they are struggling with and get a deeper understanding of where they are in their learning.  I am looking forward to more time spent working with these kids this week as we work to improve their writing in math, reading and understanding, and overall confidence in their wonderful abilities to learn and view the world around them each day.

I hope that you have a chance in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the next few weeks to take a step back and look at your amazing teaching and yours students individually.