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Spring Break is Over

This is a duplicate from a post I shared with my staff this week.  With some of the humorous (or not so humorous) videos included, I thought it worth cross posting.

In case you have yet to realize it, Spring Break is over.

What does that mean for us?

Several things, the  greatest of which is that the end of the school year is just around the corner.  Some people upon hearing that, immediately think we are in the downhill slide to the end of the year.  That is far from the case, in reality it is more of an uphill climb to the end of the year.

Just as in mountain climbing, the last leg of the climb is often the most challenging.  It is challenging because by this point, your energy is spent, your supplies are running low, the air is thinning and the people you are leading on the climb are ready to quit and go home for the summer.

What are some of the challenges facing us on this last leg of the hike up the mountain?

Testing...as we approach the testing window we have several decisions to make.  What can I do to have the greatest impact on student success?  What skills are they lacking at this point that will give them an extra edge?  What are they struggling with?  What have I been unsuccessful in teaching them?  What have I excelled in teaching them?  How can I be sure I have them ready for the test?

Discipline...at this time of year teaching can become challenging.  As temperatures warm, students often dream of being outside (teachers dream this as well).  After being with each other for the better part of a year, students begin to irritate each other more.  Students and teachers struggle with focus & patience.

Promotion...are they ready for the next grade?  Have I done all I can to get them ready for next year?  Do any of them need to be retained?  What do I need to cover between now and the end of the year so they are ready?  Would summer school benefit any of my students?  Have I already communicated to parents this possibility?

To help you make this last leg of the journey for 2013-2014, here are a few education humor videos to brighten your day when things look tough.  Laugh and learn.

Classroom Management


Promotion/Retention

Testing




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