Day 482

84 + 38=
107 - 88 =
62 - 19 =

If you had to guess, how long do you think we spent in class today solving these three math problems?
a. 1 minute
b. 5 minutes
c. 10 minutes
d. 90 minutes

D. 90 minutes.

With today's new type of math we have to show kids lots of different ways to solve math problems and the conventional way of lining them up and carrying/borrowing isn't one of them. What should take no more than a minute now takes a long time - and a lot of explanation - and lots of paper and lots of lines and boxes and arrows.

Between that drain brain of a day and another two (yep, 2) work-related phone calls, I took a nap tonight after dinner. Just like last night.

The only thing that saved me today was getting to see this out my bedroom window.

Day 481

The thought of getting these quilts to Alaska is what is keeping me moving forward. Although today I felt like I was stuck in the Twilight Zone.

Part of the problem is that I had this math class starting this morning and I SO didn't want to go. To keep my teaching certificate current I have to take this class. I've put it off for a couple years and can't wait much longer. So today it started.

An entire day - an entire week - of 30+ people crammed into a 5th grade classroom with 5th grade tables and 5th grade sized plastic chairs. By the time my eight hours was up today my back was done for. (Not to mention we spent an hour and a half working through one math problem. One problem, 90 minutes. Talk about brains being scrambled.)

And those work phone calls I was crossing my fingers and hoping I wouldn't get now that I'm done for the summer? I've had two so far.

No escaping anyone or anything. I'm so thankful I can sew!