Suffering with Division

We are all suffering with this math review. The worst is division. I am suffering along with them. I know how to do it but don't seem to be able to inspire the class. I am a senior high English teacher. We have had so much fun with poetry this term but I don't know the little tricks of making math fun. I only know the basics and it is difficult to teach in an area where I have no great skill. Teachers should teach with a passion whatever the subject area. When a teacher can bring passion for the subject area ,and some humor, everyone is comfortable and the learning comes easy.

The students come to math late in their elementary education in the north. Often they have not done much math until the beginning of Gr. 3. Now that the Gr. 3 class is half Inuktitut and then half English( or French) the students are not getting the good math basis in Gr. 3 that they used to receive. The present Gr 3 class has had over 6 Inuit teachers this year. It is very difficult to find Inuit teachers for the Inuit teaching positions. The Gr. 3 Inuit teacher was to do the Math, Science and Social studies in their half of the day. So stedents will come

There are books here to help us all but I can't seem to get the fun of math out of these books. I know these kids are smart and with the proper teacher could grasp it in no time. As it is we suffer thru it.. student and teacher. We do the drills but with no confidence. Having the right teacher for the right subject is so important.

Gladys can do math with her students so easily. She is a math specialist. She also did her Education degree in early childhood educationl. She has different games dripping off her fingertips. I suffer and by extension so do the students. I do want them to hav ea command of the basics. Hopefully another teacher will come along and take them to that other level.

Home work is a major problem. There is not much support for school activities in the homes. So many of my students don't do their homework. They know all I can go is keep them in after school to do it or take away something that they do like doing. I get so tired of the lack of interest in what I am trying to do. I will spend time preparing homework that can be done easily at home, only to have the students return to school with little or nothing even attempted. If some of the drills were done at home then we'd have an easier time the next day at school.

Yesterday I was anticipating that homework would not be done so I said anyone with problems come to my house. I had a few students show up in thearly evening. . That pleased me. Poor Luc walked up and down the big hill, twice, in the pouring rain, to ask for help. I gave him a huge chocolate bar after the 2nd trip. That will get round the class quickly and perhaps I will have more attempt the math homework another night.

We are all enjoying the songs of new to north birds. There are several types of sparrows that have not been seen here before. Now that it is warmer, the classroom windows are all open so we hear them. I have missed the smallish birds. I am so used to being out of doors when I am down south doing the lawns and gardens. The small birds were often my only companions. The chickadees always flitted around while I was outside. I have missed them.