3 days!

I am a terrible blogger! Things keep happening so fast and I work too late and I can't seem to find the time to write. I can't believe it is already the end of October. I am feeling frustrated and sad because I can't seem to catch up, and I can't get all the materials I think I need. My teaching assistant comes only one or two days each week, so I never know what my day will look like. The last few days have been tough. I don't think I'm alone in this. Other teachers and staff seem pretty frustrated as well. I think much prayer is in order here.

Enough complaining. Some good things are going on. Last week I added time in the computer lab and the science lab to our classroom schedule. The kids seemed pretty excited. The computer lesson was just introductory, but the kids will have more time to explore this week. The science lab was so nice and clean when we arrived. We dissected some plants from our school garden and taped specimens of plant parts in our science journals, then labeled them. My students all wanted a bathroom break while we were there. I think this was mostly due to being near new bathrooms. However, one of my children was found crying in the bathroom after an "accident." The science lab looked like a tornado had blown through, and we have a school nurse who refuses to help with accidents. It was a crazy afternoon.

My students would happily tell you the countdown to Halloween. They have been certain that it is any day now since October began. We are having Mathoween at my school. This means that we will be doing Halloween-themed mathematics-focused activities all day long. It is also the end of red ribbon week when we emphasize the "say no to drugs" message. It is a nice change and Friday should be fun. I'll let you know.