I just don't get it....

Today I gave the second math assessment for my 6th graders. It was all about proportions and finding out the missing part that would make the proportion equal. They have to use inverse operations and they have to divide.
We've been learning and practicing proportions for the last two weeks. Everything seems like the kids are getting it and that they are able to solve for a missing variable.

They seemed excited and they seemed to have lots of confidence as they turned in their short constructed response (in other words a math problem they have to explain). As I was going through their answers, I realized that some kids had the wrong answer, so when they came to the after school tutoring after school I asked them to give their paper a second look and to redo their multiplication and division at the end.

I WAS SHOCKED!!! I realized that these kids set up the proportion perfectly, but they got stuck multiplying by a two digit number and dividing!!! I was so surprised. How is it that a sixth grader cannot perform a simple multiplication and division problem? How is it that they are in 6th grade?

I was disappointed and felt so discouraged. I am happy to say that my discouragement didn't last long! As I was driving to my class, I decided that I had to do something for these kids. I will target those kids and help them with specific tutoring and will be calling on their parents for help. There is always something to do if I stay positive. I cannot give up on them or get frustrated. I just cant.

Well... I'll see how that works. I am pretty optimistic and I am hoping that I can count on parent support and I want to see all of my students go to seventh grade with at least the knowledge of basic math under their hats.

If you are reading this, did you ever have a hard time with some part of basic math and how did you get through it? Maybe I can get some of your ideas for my kids!!

Monday...again!!!

Mondays just come too soon! I know this is pretty much what all teachers and students feel every Sunday as soon as they realize that they need to go to bed in order to wake up the next morning.

This morning was the same as every Monday morning. I hear my alarm clock and i want to CRY :'(

But I managed to get to work and I am actually quite prepared. I have actually planned for this week. It definately pays off to be prepared. I knew what was going in my agenda and I was ready w/ power point presentations (these always make me feel so professional), and interactive notebook pages. It was a good day as a teacher.

What gets to me, most Mondays, is the kids that dont bring their homework. What? You may ask. Homework on a weekend? I say YES!!!! I am a firm believer in homework EVERYDAY!!! (We can discuss this later). Anyway, i check for HW and most kids have it ready and show it off as if it is their most prized posetions. "Teacher.... I brought mine!" "So did I!" With huge smiles on their faces...But, as we all know, the same repeat offenders...

"I don't have mine!"

"Why not?"

"I didn't have time to do it!"

"You had a whole weekend to finish one page. What did you do that didn't allow you to finish?"

"I went to my aunts house on Saturday."

"How long were you there?"

"I dont know. About 4 hours."

"So what did you do with the remainder 20 hours of that day or the 24 hours of sunday?"

"Well, I forgot!" or "My mom cleaned my room and I couldn't find my books from when I last left them!" or "My finger was bleeding from my nail, so I couldn't write ALL weekend."

It seems that 6th graders love to point fingers. It is never their fault. It is always an excuse!! Others say that I should be used to excuses by now, but I dont think that is right at all!! >:S

I can just see these kids in the real world:

"It will be $35.45 for your groceries sir."

"I only have $10.00. My mom forgot to give me money and I was doing laundry and the money in my pocket was washed and I forgot i had to have money to pay!"

"NEXT!!!"

What are we teaching kids when we give in to the excuses? In the real world, there are no excuses. You don't pay your bills, they get cancelled. You don't work out, you don't lose weight. You don't pick up after yourself, or do your dishes, the mess will still be there when you come back. Why do children think that they can get away with anything by saying "It wasn't me!?" Kids need to learn from their mistakes. It is not okay for a parent to handicap their child by allowing them to get away from responsibility.

Anyway.... parents that is a whole other topic for another day!!!! I could scream from the lack of parenting from some parents.

If you are reading this, what is the worst or best excuse you have heard a student say, or that you have used in your lifetime? Let me know!