I Do Too Many Things In Groups...

Today was a long day. I am starting new units in each of my classes (all two of them). In the Technology Class, we will actually be starting to do our AutoCAD stuff this week and next. In the Web Design Class, we will be starting a Photo Manipulation project.

To kick off a new unit, I like the idea of a starting activity that is kind of fun. For the Technology classes, I put together a little lesson on Tangrams, how to make them, how to put them together, etc. In Web Design, we will be doing a project based on a deck of cards, so I put together a short card game that the kids could play.

It is also writing time, so I had each class do some writing after their fun.

It was tough.

I had the kids in groups in each class. Groups of 2 in one class and groups of 4-5 in the other two classes. I think that the kids aren't used to doing group stuff in my room yet, so when they are let free from the computer screen, they get a little squirrely. I had to put a ton of energy into just keeping the peace. Not that the kids were getting way out of line, just that they were getting loud. Gave me a headache.

I continue to notice that kids have a hard time following written instructions. In one class, I gave the groups written instructions to create a set of Tangram Pieces. You'd have thought I had told them to create a nuclear bomb from toothpicks and spools of thread. "I don't get it!" I don't understand!" "What does this mean!" I had one young lady completely shut down and put her head on the desk when she couldn't figure out how to cut her tangram pieces the way the drawings showed her. Ouch.

Anyway, I think that, for the most part, the kids had fun and they did their writing, although I haven't graded it yet.

All in all, the activities took MUCH longer than I anticipated and I didn't get any of the new units started. Oh, well. I'm learning.

I hope.