Grammar's gotta go

How much grammar is too much grammar? We are approaching the end of the grammar unit in 9th grade, but I still know there are some students who have NO CLUE what subject-verb agreement is. I tried so hard this semester to teach grammar differently than any other year, and I still didn't completely accomplish what I wanted. I am afraid I have left some students so far behind, but I literally did not know what else to do to reteach or reinforce the concepts I had already taught and many students already understood. If nothing else, students are getting more experience writing than they have any other year. That should come in handy for the state writing test this year.

However, I still have the question - how much is too much? Or how fast is too fast? Is there a limit to the amount of grammar information that can fit inside one student's head? I think there must be, but that limit is different for each student. I just hope that when I look over their survey responses at the end of the unit, their responses are a little more positive than at the beginning of the unit. I can't wait for these next two weeks to be over - I just want to start teaching literature. Literature is why I love being an English teacher. I think it will really revive me. I will also be able to have full-class lessons again, instead of giving students times to write and edit their papers.

Here's to a better Tuesday - typical Mondays are brutal.

All over the place

When will organizing become easier for me? I am doing a much better job at being organized this year, but it takes so darn long! I think about the future when I might have kids and a family and a house to keep clean - how will I ever have time for them when I am spending so much time trying be organized with my school work. I suppose it gets easier over time, but we'll see.

I read an article today in NEA Today magazine all about social media in the classroom. It had a great idea for teaching Romeo and Juliet. Unfortunately, it uses a Ning which currently doesn't work right at school. It just frustrates me that the really great ideas I have simply fall to the wayside because I don't have access to the technology they require.

On the plus side, I have been noticing that I spend far less time lesson planning this year. It's like the organization and years of tweaking lessons is starting to make a difference. I would definitely say I am less stressed than in years past.

This is kind of a random post, but I have noticed that that is where my head is lately. I am having a hard time focusing on one thing at a time. I think it might be because I am so overtired. I think I just need a weekend off to feel really caught up and focused. Things are getting done - just not as well as they could be because I have so many other thoughts going on in my head. We'll see what this fall weather brings. I love the fall so I hope it calms me down and sets me into a good routine.