Long busy week!!

   This week has been long, difficult, and different then most weeks. This week the students have state tests and the school is relying on these tests to keep the school open. This leaves the students and teachers in a panic and overly stressed. It is very noticeable because the students are not as willing to cooperate than they normally would. It is also difficult that all our schedules are changed around and many students are taken out of class for extra testing. This means I am working with classes that have only half their students present, and I have to teach classes of students I don't even know. It is very odd and I am still trying to adjust to the changes for the next week.

Kindergarten-In my K class's, the students and the schedules were the same for the most part. This week we did some science experiments and learned how to conduct some research. We had three containers of powder and we had to find out what they were. This was done with our 5 senses. We had to record what we saw, and smelt. When we mixed the powders with water we also got to taste them. The powders ended up being salt, sugar, and lemonade mix. The students really loved doing this because it is not often we get to taste things in art class. They learned how to create an experiment with a control while connecting the material to the ocean because the water in the ocean is mixed with salt. Therefor we kept adding salt to our cups to see how salty the ocean water is. Many of the students didn't mind tasting the ocean water while Ms.Helen and I were completely grossed out.

1st Grade- In our 1st grade classes it was slightly difficult to begin a new project. Some days have been make up days, some classes were not mine, and some of the classes just didn't show up! Right now I am introducing a totem pole lesson to the students and the schedule seems to be all over the place. I hope after next week things get back to normal again because it is hard to teach students you don't know, or classes with only 4 students there.
I just wish the teaching was being done the right way.


2nd Grade-Lastly, I have been helping teach the 2nd grade classes because their time slot is now at the end of the day. I do not know any of these students, while they all seem to think they know me. Everyone shouts "Oh, that's the Ms. Samantha!" It is comical that they are excited to work with me and make me feel as if I'm famous. I do really enjoy helping them though. They are in the process of making business in their classrooms, so in art they have to make a logo. Many of the students have had great ideas while others can not focus and get to work. Of course I like to help the students that are out of control because I like to see how proud they are of themselves when they actually accomplish something! Overall, it has been a good experience working with the 2nd graders.