So much has happened in the past few weeks, that it's hard to even know where to begin. I mentioned in a previous post that the longer I wait to write, the harder it is to write meaningful posts that highlight the important things without writing pages and pages at a time. Alas, my attempt to hit on the significant things that have happened since winter break.
Benchmark testing revealed my weakness in teaching to my high kids. It is typically harder for those kids to show growth if they are already at or above grade level, especially when I am teaching mostly kids who are below if not signficantly below grade level. My newest goal is to find ways to challenge my higher kids without giving them extra work. I've started copying pages from an algebra textbook for my one kid who scored the highest the whole school; even before I teach him any of the curriculum he can already solve any problem I give him. So exponential functions and trignometry it is!
Basketball season is underway, and I absolutely love going to the games with my 7th grade team. I know I've said it before, but I adore the women I work with. They are so much fun--I spend 95% of the time with them laughing my butt off at the ridiculous things they say and do. We love to sit in the stands and cheer for our 7th grade students, sometimes heckling them a little bit ("GO RODNEY! SLEEPS IN CLASS!"), and talking to parents who are unable to attend conferences but have miraculously free schedules when it comes to game night. The girls are currently undefeated, and the boys have had some exciting games but a not-so-hot record. Even though I don't get home from school until after 8 pm on a game night, it's so worth it and has become one of my favorite parts of the week. It even makes me miss watching my sister's games (and not just because it was much better basketball).
On a personal level, I just booked a ticket to Milan, Italy with 5 of my best friends from high school! We are planning a 10+ day trip to Europe this summer, 7 years after our first jaunt together. Our possible itinerary includes stops in Venice and parts of Switzerland and Germany. Suggestions are welcome! A few of us may also extend the trip to include a trip to Finland (my homeland!) to visit a friend of a friend, and from there a day trip to either Stockholm or St. Petersburg. More details to come. Thanks to Britt's dedication to getting the planning started, we're on our way.
You may be wondering how I'm holding up this time of year, when the sun starts to set before dinner, where the weather makes you not want to leave the warmth of your bed, and where kids start to go crazy, coming off the high of winter break. Or maybe you haven't. Either way, that post is coming next. For now, let's just say I'm not crying myself to sleep every night like I did last January. Moving on up.
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