I realized I hadn't shared anything about the school year so far and figure now would be a good time to brag on them. They took their nine weeks exams yesterday, and I was so impressed by their scores.
Wanna take a stab at some of the questions on their exam?
1. Which of the following tests is the least reliable when identifying minerals?
A. Luster
B. Color
C. Streak
D. Hardness
2. What step in the Rock Cycle would be required to change sandstone, a sedimentary rock, into quartzite, a metamorphic rock?
A. Freezing and thawing
B. Weathering and erosion
C. Melting and cooling
D. Heat and pressure
3. Which of the following is true about fossils?
A. Fossils found in the upper layers of sedimentary rock are older than fossils found in the lower layers.
B. Fossils found in the lower layers of sedimentary rock are as old as fossils found in the upper layers.
C. The relative age of fossils cannot be deteremined from their position in sedimentary rock layers.
D. Fossils found in the lower layers of sedimentary rock are older than fossils found in the upper layers.
4. Which process of responsible for soil formation, including sand?
A. Weathering of rocks
B. Melting of magma
C. Pressure on rocks
D. Plate tectonics
5. Why are plant roots important to prevent erosion?
A. Plant roots absorb the water that would otherwise wash away soil.
B. Plant roots build a barrier, preventing rain from reaching soil.
C. Plant roots anchor the soil, preventing wind or water from eroding it.
D. Plant roots take up space, leaving very little soil present to erode.
[Answers at the bottom]
I cannot believe we've already been in school nine weeks...and more so, I cannot believe I'm not thinking, "We've only been in school nine weeks!!!?" like I have the past two years.
Why the change of heart?
Great Kids.
I think a big part of my renewed love for teaching is the fact that we were blessed with a great team. This year we teach inclusion, which means two of our classes have gifted students and two have special ed students. In the later two classes, I teach with a para-pro and having that extra set of hands in the classroom is like a God's send. But overall, our kids just seem more well-behaved and eager to learn, which makes teaching so much more enjoyable.
Great Team.
I am so blessed to work with three co-workers who are not only inspiring teachers, but good friends. We communicate well with one another and have such consistent teaching styles and behavior management skills. I like to think of us as the sixth grade "dream team." :)
High Expectations.
I teach next to a new teacher and can literally hear her screaming with frustration through the cement walls. I'm embarassed to say I did the exact same thing two years ago. I didn't necessarily know what I expected of the students, so how could they? Now, I try to be a "warm demander" as my mentor teacher likes to say. I'm still "nice," but I have high expectations and won't accept anything less.
Practice, Practice, Practice.
Earth science is new to most sixth graders, since they don't cover much science content at the elementary school. There are a lot of new vocabulary terms and key concepts to teach, but thankfully the subject is very relatable. For instance, after we talked about weathering and erosion, we went outside to find evidence of it around the school. We constantly review information and make connections to new things we're learning. Thankfully, it seems to be working.
Don't get me wrong, there are days I get frustrated and annoyed with my 76 little bundles of joy, but overall, I am so proud of the progress they have made and am genuinely excited to go to work each day.
Only 135 days left... ;)
Answers: 1. B 2.D 3.D 4. A 5. C
