first week of school...with students

tuesday, september 2nd
well...after the awkward start of the 7th grade staff surprised at my arrival, things are off and running. it's been worked out that i'll spend the morning periods with ms. b and the afternoon with mrs. s. the first day with students went well...it was a little shaky due to the lack of class lists, both cooperating teachers were in the dark as to how many students they were expecting in each period. the activity for the first day was a scavenger hunt. the classrooms are divided by a big divider...which was pushed aside in the morning so that students had access to both sides of the room. i thought the idea of getting the kids up and moving around the room and familiarizing themselves with the room was a great one. i helped out and assisted students that had a lost look to them.

it was pretty cool noting the difference between the classes...the 1st and 3rd period classes were somewhat loud while 2nd period was awfully quiet. i had a rather lengthy discussion with one of the para's that was in the room and why a couple of students who couldn't read or write kept moving up in grade level...if comprehension isn't an issue, other teaching methods can be used but if a student isn't understanding what is being taught to them...why do schools keep passing them on?