Crazy Day

A frustrating day...
Today I was not feeling good. My allergies and sinuses were going crazy and me throat was raw. Even right away this morning it hurt to talk and I had no energy. Today was a rough day. Math was crazy as usual. My teacher and I have both tried a million different seating arrangements. The kids talk and mess around no matter where they are sitting, who they are sitting by or what we are doing-whether it be hands on or problems on the board. My teacher is going to switch math groups with me next week, so she can deal with the problem children. I feel bad that she is stepping in to take over; ultimately it is my responsibility to learn how to control them. My coop says that they won't get any better, but she is more used to it. No I have to re-plan for next week's lessons. I felt I was not as patient with all groups today because I didn't feel good and I am tired of them not following the rules after 4 weeks.

The afternoon was rough too. We have had the first graders for 3 weeks and have introduced 3 letters. One of my little boys is not doing well. He still cannot identify any of the letters. He can't write or identify his last name...and the list goes on. My teacher and I are seriously wondering if he is mildly mentally handicapped. My coop is trying to get him moved to the MiMH special ed kindergarten. My heart breaks for this little boy. In his testing it mentioned something being wrong with his short-term memory. If short term isn't working I don't have a clue how he will ever learn anything. How do you make the information transfer to the long-term memory. We have done every different kind of activity with our letters with 3 different curriculums, including hands on activities.

After school we had to conference with many teachers about our little first grader, to see if we could change his placement. By the time I got done checking in with the general education teachers about my students, conferences with my teacher, made copies, and cleaned up the room it was later than we usually leave. It is frustrating, especially when I don't feel good, when I don't get my own work done at school. By the time I get home write this journal, eat dinner, grade papers and look over the next days lesson it is time for bed. It is hard to get all the other planning and extra grading finished. It just seems like there are not enough hours in the day.