No Child Left....
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
I went to teach my kids in Camden on Monday. Now, since it is an after school program, I don't expect them to be completely quiet and angelic, but usually, their rowdiness is in check to SOME degree.
Monday was different, though. From the moment they walked in the door, they were Satan's Spawn. All of them. Even the "good kids" had no attention spans to speak of and all they seemed willing and or able to do was be rowdy. They couldn't hold their attention spans for even the easiest activities and I couldn't figure out why.
About half way through the first class I found out, though, that they had been doing standardized testing for almost the entire day. I felt like a lightbulb had gone on over my head. At least at this point I realized that it wasn't me, I wasn't going crazy, and I hadn't suddenly lost the control I thought I had over the classroom. Well, I had lost control, but it wasn't my fault.
And I don't want to say that at this point I "gave up" on teaching them. But at least I could understand that the demands made on their fourth grade brains that day didn't really allow any extras to discern the finer intricacies of rhythm dictation.
They have testing all week, so I expect that tomorrow will be no different. If any of you have any suggestions for games that I might play or other activities for tomorrow's classes, I'd welcome them. I have a few ideas (thanks, AB!) but they won't fill an hour. Even if it is only remotely related to music, rhythm, steady beat, etc., anything y'all got would be helpful.
Posted byL. at 9:50 PM
Labels: teaching
