I have included a draft letter to my math supervisor.... because that is one of my chores this week... but I think you could delete math and stick any discipline in.... how do all of you handle the balance for pace and depth... how do you keep fun connected to skill ... how can you be rigorous and still developmental (God forbid... did I actually implicate myself) ... this year I am journaling to improve my practice... if you have ideas .. would you send your thoughts .... Thanks Pam Good morning, ______. Just a quick but earnest plea... the pacing guide that you sent for Everyday Math weighs heavy on my mind. If I was to do just that... turn the page of the curriculum guide to keep pace... I feel that I would be shortchanging my students on many of the wonderful and very practical connections of doing math everyday... as the title of the book purports... For example, by the time unit 3 ends... I like to do many extension activities that practically apply the strategies and skills taught so far in the units of everyday math... some of the few that I have done already and some I still want to attempt include: l. An estimation station that follows along with a great read: The Candy Corn Contest 2. Measurement of an amaryllis growing in our classroom for the holiday 3. Patterned wrapping paper 4 Pricing and selling flea market items for the holidays and donating proceeds to: Make a Wish foundation 5. Sending our donated Halloween candy to the soldiers in Iraq and weighing boxes and figuring out postage 6. Designing a new year calendar... 7. Measuring our pets 8. Mapping our Thanksgiving Dinner 9. Creating a class quilt patterned from the kids' names. I could name many more... Every year I am faced with this dilemma as I see my first grade team barreling along and I desperately try to keep pace... Every year I do finish the book (given....I do a sideways glance at the review chapter 10) but even with that ... the kids seem to do ok/ well on the end of the year test...The more I study strategies of comprehension and the more I spend time in company with first graders... I am convinced that in order to have a rigorous curriculum with deep-rooted understandings.... strong connections and applications must be made.... not during a project of the month mind you ...but continually and with a gradual release of responsibility to the kids.... That much said... I double up on math... I squeak it in where I can... but the trickle down effect of education is drowning me here in first grade... just as you are examining math under a close lens of scrutiny so does the science, social studies, and writing and reading curriuculm supervisors note and keep pace... instead of feeling good about what is happening ( my powers of observation indicate successful) I feel harried and hurried.... always behind the eight ball. My strong desire would be to build more practical application into the curriculum... take some bends in the road while we still keep our eyeballs on the mile marker as they say.... Just my thoughts... Pam Cucco first grade teacher **************Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and favorite sites in one place. Try it now. (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000010) _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org.
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