Tried it Tuesday and Oh So Close!

I'm linking up with Holly at Fourth Grade Flipper today for her Tried it Tuesday Linky Party.

Today, and every Tuesday, my class goes to Related Arts from 8:30-9:15, then our STEM Lab from 10:00-10:50, the media center from 11:05-11:40, lunch from 11:43 to 12:08, and recess from 12:25 to 12:45! How's a girl to teach when there are no kids?  Well, to top all that off, I also had to leave early, at 1:45 today, to take my daughter to the doctor in a nearby town.  We begin school at 8:00 and dismiss at 2:25, so you can imagine the squishing I tried to do today. What was new about it was, that instead of trying to do a full math lesson, I did a whole group mini lesson on problem analysis between related arts and STEM (about 30 minutes after using the bathroom and getting supplies together). We only got through two problems, but when my kiddos returned from STEM, and we had those 12 or so minutes, they seemed to have had enough time to absorb the mini lesson, and easily did the next three problems!  

I know all about "brain breaks", but maybe what we really need is a scenery or topic break.  My students were totally engaged, able to process and analyze the word problems I had for them, decide the given and needed information, the operation, and model and solve those last three problems in no time flat.  So, instead of a brain break, we tried an academic break today!

I am feeling the excitement, as I get closer and closer to the 150 followers mark!  I've contacted some of my blogger buddies, and am hoping they'll join me in a celebratory bloghop and give-away with just 6 more followers.  I have some very savvy blogger friends, so be looking for that give-away very, very soon (I hope)!  Until then...

Hugs,