Successful experiment (so far)
My kids are so funny!
I posted before that I went to a cooperative learning workshop and was going to try this stuff on my kids. I am happy to say that after 6 days of doing it, no one has died. I was a little worried there for a while that some people would come down with a severe case of humiliation (some of the partnerships that I formed were a little embarrassing), but everyone is OK. What's more, they actually look forward to working with a partner and helping each other. Their social skills are steadily improving.
Guil is still doing next to nothing in class. I have decided that the next time I see him not working, I am going to take away his books, desk, pencils, even his chair (OK, maybe I'll let him keep THAT). I'm just going to tell him that it is his lucky day. He can sit there and do nothing all day long, just like he's always wanted. Let's just see how fun it really is.
I like to give a brain teaser every week. It is always a really difficult math problem. I gave one last week, and quite a few of them solved it correctly. I told them the ones who got it right would get to eat with me outside at lunch. I thought they would think that was the lamest prize, but we had a ball! They were already talking about doing it again this week. I made the teaser a little harder this time, though. =)
I was at a college football game this weekend. It was out of the town that I live in, but wouldn't you believe that one of my kids' parents was there? Talk about a small world! I'm just glad that I'm a lady and I wasn't drinking and carrying on like many of the people around me! How would that have looked? Just when you think no one knows you, something like that happens. I know that teachers should be able to have a private life too, but to some people you'll always be their kid's teacher and it's just not a good idea to act wild and crazy in public. I guess it pays to be careful how you act, no matter where you are!
Well, that about does it for this week's update. I'm not feeling so good today; this headache's been following me around all day. Time to take a nap. Ciao!
I posted before that I went to a cooperative learning workshop and was going to try this stuff on my kids. I am happy to say that after 6 days of doing it, no one has died. I was a little worried there for a while that some people would come down with a severe case of humiliation (some of the partnerships that I formed were a little embarrassing), but everyone is OK. What's more, they actually look forward to working with a partner and helping each other. Their social skills are steadily improving.
Guil is still doing next to nothing in class. I have decided that the next time I see him not working, I am going to take away his books, desk, pencils, even his chair (OK, maybe I'll let him keep THAT). I'm just going to tell him that it is his lucky day. He can sit there and do nothing all day long, just like he's always wanted. Let's just see how fun it really is.
I like to give a brain teaser every week. It is always a really difficult math problem. I gave one last week, and quite a few of them solved it correctly. I told them the ones who got it right would get to eat with me outside at lunch. I thought they would think that was the lamest prize, but we had a ball! They were already talking about doing it again this week. I made the teaser a little harder this time, though. =)
I was at a college football game this weekend. It was out of the town that I live in, but wouldn't you believe that one of my kids' parents was there? Talk about a small world! I'm just glad that I'm a lady and I wasn't drinking and carrying on like many of the people around me! How would that have looked? Just when you think no one knows you, something like that happens. I know that teachers should be able to have a private life too, but to some people you'll always be their kid's teacher and it's just not a good idea to act wild and crazy in public. I guess it pays to be careful how you act, no matter where you are!
Well, that about does it for this week's update. I'm not feeling so good today; this headache's been following me around all day. Time to take a nap. Ciao!