It's been a weird week with my usual routine interrupted by Parent Observation Day at the kids' schools and yet another planning board meeting. I'm terrible at compartmentalizing so various issues distracted me and kept me up at night. Long term projects were put on hold as I obsessed about past missteps and planned future moves. It will be good to be back in the classroom, when the urgency of a class lecture forces me to prioritize.
At Jonah's school, I was amazed by how much time was spent just getting 20 kids to follow directions and to simultaneously concentrate on the lesson at hand. What I could have done in five minutes with Jonah one on one, took 40 minutes in the classroom. The teacher was great and her lesson was interesting, but it took a long time to get 20 kids through the material.
It's getting colder around here. My new parka from Lands' End arrived. It's the get-the-kids-to-school jacket. Warm, but too bulky around the arms to be terribly cute. I have to inspect the kids' coats in storage, because they're going to need them soon. Ian needs more long sleeve shirts. Both need new underwear and socks. Actually, I need new socks, too. I've been wearing my husband's gold-toed work socks, because mine are too holey. Socks are one of those annoying things to buy. I have twenty sweaters, but five pairs of good socks. Who wants to spend money on black things that go on your feet, when there's a really excellent skirt to buy?
I'm knee-deep in all sorts of chores, so I need to make some lists and get organized. Better post later tonight.
The comment about getting 20 kids to get on point really resonated. I think we're particularly susceptible to not realizing how big a part of learning that is for 5 year olds, because we teach college students. And, even the most immature of college students usually stop talking when you stand in front and say "hey listen to me."
Kindergarten teachers have to work much harder to keep the classroom focused on them.
bj
Posted by: bj | October 26, 2006 at 11:06 AM
Here's a place to get excited about socks: http://www.sock-dreams.com/_shop/edit/index.php
Posted by: Catie | October 26, 2006 at 12:45 PM