Wow, it is Deja Vu!

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Home : 2003 : March : 3

Wow, it is Deja Vu!
By Robin

You are totally describing my second graders to a "T",even down to the parent part. I have actually dissolved our regular "centers" indefinitely. When the kids complain, I respond that we can't do the old centers because
hardly anyone got their work done and were just playing around and talking and not working on assignments.
We now have a weekly work folder. Each week I put a check off sheet, a reading log, and various assignments (Daily Language, Scholastic News, theme based assignments, writing, journals, etc.) They have to have so many checks on their check off sheet done before they can do any of

the "fun" stuff like computers, overhead, etc. (Sometimes I do include one Options check off that they can use for the "fun" stuff as a weekly assignment.)

I also left it open ended --if they started taking more responsibility that I would consider doing the old centers (rotating in groups) again.

This whole process has made most of them more responsible and I am able to meet with my guided reading groups. I also no longer have to search papers to see if everyone did their work. (No more "I lost it" either!) On Fridays I check their folders after reading and whatever is not done is sent home with a note to the parents that the child was unable to finish their work on time and it must be completed over the weekend! I now have only about 2-3 students with incomplete work.

Just so you know this is my 6th year teaching 2nd grade. Every year is different. I have had my breeze years where I couldn't teach them enough fast enough. Then I have had this year--where half my class has special or behavioral needs, 4-5 of them require one to one or modified assignments,some have daily behavior plans, etc. This is where the old adage is so true-- what doesn't kill us makes us stronger! I will be (and so to will you) a better teacher for having taught this class! I just hope I have hair left!