Planning Woes

I haven't found a good way to plan for the year, month, or week. I have flip flopped back and forth between online planbooks, homemade planbooks, and store-bought planbooks and can't settle on one.

Part of the problem is I have to plan too much-I teach all subjects, I teach 2 grades. That's a LOT to keep track of. Do I keep it organized by subject, with parts for each grade? Hour by hour according to what I do? I don't know. That I haven't figured out yet. With the range of abilities, I can put science or social studies lessons together for the whole group, but not ELA or Math.

Making my own template for plans was OK when I taught one grade and 2 subjects, and traveled from room to room. All I had to do was slot in an ELA and a math activity for the day, and then copy it to every point on my schedule where it occurred. But life is more complicated in this job.

This year I'm going to try going back to planbook.com. I've used it before, for a short time, and I did like the way that it let me organize everything according to how many blocks I needed, unlike a paper planner, which is pre-printed and limiting. Ultimately at that point, I left that job and didn't want to create my own account for my next school as my planning was much simpler.
I prefer paper because when I write something down, I remember it better, and I like to plan away from my computer at times...on the couch, sitting on the porch, whatever. However, this time I have my Ipad and I can use the app to plan wherever I am, so that might make the experience better.
And frankly, I have discovered one too many times that my paper planbook is at school when I want it at home, or at home when I want it at school, and that's just too much of a pain. At least with a web-based planner it will be wherever I am.

This might help with teachers I coordinate with as well. I could always give them the login information so they can view my book and collaborate, add special events in their classrooms I need to get my students to, and let me know what we should expect when we come in for inclusion. I can share with my principal so she can check it out, and can provide feedback, or know what to expect when she comes in for an observation.

We'll see how that works out. I have a backup paper book if I turn out to hate doing it online. But if there's any perfect system I'm missing, I'd love to know.

Don't Quit Your Day Job

Last week, the boys and the princess (as the sole girl in a k-4 district behavior program, she's been the princess since day 1) and I were sitting and eating snack while I read aloud. I was in a particularly silly mood.

My young lady was eating Doritos-the Nacho Cheese variety. I said "Uh-oh Princess, better stop eating those!"
"Why?"
"Because...it says right there...it's Not Yo' Cheese!"

I take full responsibility for my horrible pun.

One of my boys tells me that if I were a comedian, people would throw tomatoes at me and I would get booed off the stage.

I turn to my ally in terrible humor and ask him what he thinks.

He pauses for a moment, reflects, and then gets a goofy grin on his face.

"I don't know...a lot of people like bad jokes!"

Well played, kiddo. I guess I should stick with what I'm good at. Message received.

The Longest Month

March is hell. It's long, it's still snowy up here, and the kids have been with me long enough that we know each other and have gotten into patterns of behavior...most positive, but some that I need to work actively to change. I am so worn out by the end of the day that I'm considering changing our schedule because math isn't getting the attention it deserves right now. With progress reports, report cards and IEP season upon us, I'm so overwhelmed in paperwork that my planning is lacking. It's not making it easier for me at all.

On top of that, I'm having personal issues that are affecting my ability to complete work on my time away from school. I need to get over that fast, because it's making my days hell at work.

Everyone is dying for spring, state testing begins next week...we're doing PARCC for the first time and I really don't know how to prepare the kids. I truly don't know what to expect. I'm trying not to stress them out, and hoping they perform at least comparably to how they did last year...I would hate to think I've held them back in any way due to my inexperience with the curriculum.

But ultimately, I'm working in a great place with a staff that I love. My principal is helpful and fun and knowledgeable. I have coworkers to lean on, and I'm helping other coworkers with their behavioral issues in the classroom...I like that people are willing to ask a first year teacher questions. My students are making progress behaviorally AND academically, and I hear from their parents that they're very happy with how they're doing...the ones who are communicative anyway.

Once it warms up a bit and the mountains of snow melt, it will all be downhill towards the end of the year. After our April break, the time is just going to fly.

Indoor Recess Fun

Recently the boys were playing with some blocks during indoor recess. An elaborate robot battle game that has developed over this very cold and snowy New England winter, with each playtime an "episode" that continues from the previous one. Heaven forbid one of the boys is absent, because they spend half of free time catching up on what they missed before they are allowed to resume playing. In our room is a mini-fridge and microwave, which is often the only reason I can eat my lunch at all. Our neighboring teacher was heating up her lunch when I hear the following from the rug...

Kiddo 1: I smell tacos
Kiddo 2: You know what I smell? (in a hushed tone) Victory!

The block battle that ensued was epic.

It's important to remember the ways they make me smile when there are weeks like this past one. Coming back from a week of snow days does not put anyone on their most endearing behavior. Hopefully we won't have a snow day repeat this week.