How to fit it all in?
I find that I am much better and getting all my ELA content in over my math...so why is that? It's not because there is less material, it's not because I'm a better ELA teacher than I am a math teacher. I think it comes down to the fact that I teach ELA during all my other subjects.
We write about math. We form opinions, arguments and support about social studies topics. We research about famous people & places.
Bottom line, my students are reading and writing in all their core content areas. And what do I flip??? Math. It seems odd that the subject I flip (which opens up my in-class time), is also the subject I can never seem to get through.
I don't have the answer. I actually struggle with this. I struggle with it Every. Single. Day.
What I want to do is take several of my math units completely off the table, which would give me a couple extra months to really dig in to the rest of the material. What I want is to have the time (and resources) to create really in depth units that weave together science, social studies, reading, writing AND math into one beautiful inquiry...ahhhh, wouldn't that be awesome! Unfortunately, that is not my reality.
If I'm being 100% honest, I can't blame it all on the curriculum. I admit that a lot of the reason I don't get through all my math content is because my students waste way too much time during math class. We have math in the afternoon, and the students are often times very distracted. This has been a constant battle this year (and for many years).
As it is becoming painfully clear, I don't have the answer to this problem...I'd love some ideas from someone who does.
