A New Week and I-Learn

This week is theme week for homecoming!  I am looking forward to having a change during my week.  I also start unit two with my students.  We start with factoring, GCF, and LCM.  I am anxious to see how they do on this unit.

The school also started a new math computer program that I am super excited about.  It is called I-Learn.  It assesses students to see where they are before they have any math gaps, and places them on the appropriate level.  From there they take what are called challenge tests.  If they get a 90% or better, they get to skip it.  It tests at the unit level, then the chapter, then the lesson.  If they get less than a 90% on the Unit, it lets them take the chapter challenge test.  There are several chapters within a unit.  If they get a 90%, they move on to the next chapter challenge test.  If they don't, they test at the lesson level.  Then when they are done testing, and it places them in the appropriate lesson to help them work through their gaps.

The kids started on the program this week and absolutely love it.  They get to go to the lab twice a week for 35 minutes a day.  I wish there was enough time to let them go every day, but there just isn't enough instructional time for that.  The school piloted this program over the summer for the summer school students, and the growth was absolutely amazing.  It motivated students to work on it at home that couldn't be bribed anything to do their homework.  I wish there was a built in year for students to get caught up on anything they missed in school so that they wouldn't be so far behind as they get sent on to each grade.

Anywho, I had to brag that I bought a second teacher toolbox from Lowe's.  I got the one with the 18 large drawers and had the Mr. spray paint it pink.  I got some pink fabric to cover the back of it.  I haven't put the labels inside it yet so I don't have any pictures.  But I am super excited about it.  The Mr. also bought me a bookshelf to go behind my desk at school so that my tool boxes can sit behind me, rather than taking a ton of space on my desk.

I swear, I feel like I am drowning in papers, between grading and filling out things for my admin.  ugh.  Speaking of papers, I have a stack of tests to grade and last weeks homework too.

I hope everyone has a great week!  I get to wear my Cowboys jersey tomorrow, sunglasses Tuesday, and so forth.  Yay for homecoming week!  My students will enjoy this week and so will I.