Saturday, September 15, 2012

How NOT to Liven Up a Math Lesson


Sigh of relief!  I am always so glad when the new school year is underway, the routines have been taught, and we’ve settled in.  The first few weeks of school this year seemed especially hectic, perhaps because we got a new math program, which we are still trying to figure out, and we have larger classes than last year—each of us on the third grade team with a full share of students whose needs require extra attention.  Last Thursday, I did the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever done in the classroom—I tripped over a student’s chair and fell down.  I tried to save myself as I went down, to no avail.  I went down on my back and just laid there for a few seconds.  Kids started yelling, “Is she dead, is she dead?”  You can imagine the uproar.  Lying there on my back on the floor, I said, “No, I’m not dead, just really embarrassed.”  Well, that really enlivened the math lesson!  I think I’ll try to find simpler ways to bring excitement to the lesson next time!

2 comments:

  1. We've all been there! I tripped over a cooler one time and went flying across the room. There was a collective gasp in the class. It's one of the moments they will always remember lol. I hope you're ok!

    Ms. M
    http://thirdgradegems.blogspot.com

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  2. Thank you for making me laugh out loud! I can just envision the uproar. We are also implementing a new math series and it's been a huge change from our previous program so I feel your pain. My most embarrassing moment thus far in my multiple years of teaching occurred this year when I squatted down beside my desk and the material next to the seam in the back of my dress ripped open. Literally. My 87 year old mama had to bring me a change of clothes! I informed my students that I had broken the ice and there was NOTHING more embarrasssing than what I had just done that could happen to them this year in Third Grade! I had to tie a jacket around my waist and wait on my change of clothes. We are still laughing about it. They enjoyed sharing it at home, also, because I've had more than one parent ask me about it!! : )

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