Teacher Tuesday

This will probably be a short Teacher Tuesday as I don't really have much to add.  School is going ok, there are some minor frustrations falling down on teachers that I think are stemming from misunderstandings at the next level.  I have faith that it'll work out for the best.  Another semi-short week this week since 4th grade has a workshop to attend on Friday.  Any week where there is a break is always a good one, especially considering it'll be a month before we have another short week (then we get two in a row!).

I have to say that aside from still trying to get a handle on the schedule, which I'm hearing is an issue with others as well, Math is a challenge.  Math is always a struggle and part of me really wants to blame Go Math for this struggle.  There are much easier ways to teach some of the strategies that we use, but I find that even with enough planning, I as the teacher don't often see the best strategy until the end of the lesson or after we've moved on.   And I don't know if this is okay to say, but there are people in this world who are not "Math People."  I am related to a couple of them!  Some people just don't get it.  They may be great at all things word related (reading, writing, etc.), but they just can't wrap their head around math.  I feel like there are one or two students in my class like that.  I try to come up with ways to help everyone, but there is only so much time in the day, and when I sit down to help one student, it's time to move on. 

I did come up with a quick easy Place Value game.  It's been on my to do list for a couple weeks now and I finally made it.  Nothing too tricky and actually very easy, but I made it so others don't have to.  And it's only $1.50!

Place Value Sort (TPT)

Edit @ 11pm:  I am pretty happy to report that I have already sold a copy of the above activity.  I don't think anything had sold that fast before.