'Tis the Season

       Merry Christmas! What a wonderful, wonderful time of the year! On the 23^rd, we went to a wedding! It was so beautiful. Cathy, Phil’s sister, walked down a winding, dark wood staircase with her dad and met the groom in front of a large fireplace decorated with white candles, Christmas boughs and a star. All the guests stood around the bride and groom. It was so romantic for Phil and me that I could not help tearing up just a little bit. It was elegant and cozy, relaxed and lovely.

       The next day at noon, we all met for brunch at a restaurant overlooking Lake Geneva on a sparkling sunny day. Then, we came home and enjoyed a relaxing Christmas Eve around our own tall Christmas tree and cozy fire on Cascade Mountain. Now, we are on our way to Whitecap Ski Resort, listening to Christmas carols and watching the snow get deeper throughout the North Woods. Tonight we will meet our friends, Kyle and Jill, for dinner, and then we’ll watch the Packers as we build our traditional gingerbread house. In the morning, it’s time for skiing.

       This year I seem to be enjoying Christmas more and more even though I am doing less and less. Perhaps, it is precisely because we did so little that we are enjoying it so much. The wedding, the reception, the brunch and the vacation were all planned by others. We never even got around to putting up stockings or ornaments on the tree. I just put bows on all the presents for family and friends. The girls each received a new blow dryer wrapped in blankets under the tree. Cathy’s wedding gift was bought, wrapped and shipped from my laptop computer. My students received stamped paper bags containing a calculator, ornament and candy. The closest we came to watching a Christmas movie was laughing at the holiday episode of our favorite TV show, The Middle, on DVD. Phil and I are sure that the writers of that show have installed a hidden camera in our house just to get new material.

Update On Math Goals

Okay, we finished Unit 4. Next week we will finish Unit 5. I think we have found a very productive way of differentiating math instruction. I think there may be better ways with different classes, but this year, at this time, I feel very good about what we are doing.


Each day begins with some “interactive whiteboard” work. Sometimes it’s review and sometimes it’s new, but it always lets me discover where students' misconceptions are popping up. Next, I try to use manipulatives or a computer image, a movie or something fun to teach the lesson.

Then, students do some “practice” problems. Sometimes, I just walk around and check, sometimes they work with partners, sometimes they check their own work, sometimes I check it. The immediate feedback is important. Otherwise, kids sometimes just write any old answer.

Next, is the differentiation. Students have always had differentiated basic facts test. Some kids are working on multiplying 5’s and one is already through division of 9’s. Students also have group work, work based on MAP RIT score, enrichment packets, games on the ipad and our website, and opportunities to work with me and other adults individually or in small groups.

Finally, our after school “Algebra” Club is a lot different than last year. Only three students are truly working on “algebra,” nine or ten are working on pre-algebra packets and four or five are working in grade four study link workbooks. I have learned that my fourth graders this year really cannot teach themselves like my sixth graders could last year. The only one who can really do that is the only third grader who is in our club. However, everyone is working and learning.