They’re Coming Back

Anyone who reads this blog regularly might suggest I have an unhealthy obsession with pencils. And, seeing as this is my third or fourth post about pencils, I guess I might agree. But, something interesting is happening this year and it runs counter to everything I have experienced as a teacher so far.

They’re coming back. 

All those pencils that have been spirited out of my room are, like the Swallows to Capistrano, returning.

In the past, my students have gone through pencils at an alarming rate. Last year, I had a bin of pre-sharpened pencils at the start of each day. Seriously, I started each day with ten or more pencils and by the third block they were gone and my fourth block students were asking for...you guessed it, pencils.

I went through so many pencils, the Ticonderoga pencil company had their lumberjacks working overtime.

But, something has changed. Maybe it’s karma evening things out in the world, I don’t know.

Today, I started the day with one lonely little pencil in the cup on my desk and, as if by magic, I ended the day with half a dozen - and I didn’t teach even a single class today. 

Truth be told, I’m picking up pencils at the end of each class. This year’s students are a forgetful lot and my pencil cup is the beneficiary.

Is the Test Hard?

Friday was assessment day in science. It was the second major assessment of the space unit. It’s a big test. I am assessing their understanding of five learning targets:

• I can name, identify, and describe all the phases of the moon.
• I can identify and label the difference between a spring and neap tide.
• I can identify and label the different positions of the Earth’s tilt.
• I can explain why the tilt of the Earth causes the four seasons.
• I can compare and contrast how the big bang and gravity played a role in the formation of the planets, stars, the solar system, the galaxies, and the universe.

I fielded a series of questions from one student who, I think, was trying to gauge how tortuous the test was going to be.

Student: “How hard is the test?”

Teacher: “That also depends on how well you know the material. If you know your stuff, it’s easy. If you don’t it’s hard.”

Student: “How long will the test take?” 

Teacher: “That depends on how well you know the material. It would take me about 15 minutes.”

Student: “How long will it take me?” 

Teacher: “I don’t know. That depends on how well you know it. That’s what I’m trying to find out - how well you understand the material.”

<Pause>

Student: “May I go to the bathroom?”

I don’t think I provided her any of the information she was seeking.

Oh, The Tabs You’ll Open

When I project something from my computer on the front wall my students often comment on how many tabs I have open at any one time, and by comment I mean make fun of...

They say things like:

“Why do you have soooooo many tabs?”

“How do you find anything with allllllll those tabs?”

“That’s a ludicrous number of tabs.”

They are correct, I do keep a lot of tabs open but I can usually find exactly what I’m looking for...usually.

I always have tabs open for McAulliffe Central, mail, and calendar. (That’s 3 so far.)

I usually have tabs open for my Do Now timer, JumpRope, and Google docs folder. (Add 3 more. We’re up to 6 now.)

I also routinely open any tabs I will need during class. These might include a video to show, Google classroom, a blank coordinate plane I can project on the board, copies of documents, and websites we will use in class. Plus, I'm usually coming from a meeting, so meeting agenda/notes are still open. (This can easily add another 7 or 8 tabs, bringing my total up to 14.)

Now, if I’m researching something - like how to present some subject in an interactive way, or topics to include in the space research project and I can easily add another 4 or 5 tabs. (That brings us up to 19.)

Nineteen tabs is a lot I guess. The titles start to get a little small and that does make it harder to find things, but my organizational style is to put things in the same place each time, sooooo my tabs are always organized in the same way.

Make fun if you like, but I’ve found what what works for me even if it takes 19 or more tabs.