It happens every year--the day when growing pains are evident.
Those just-past-fourth-grade fifth graders are quickly growing and changing to almost sixth graders.
This signals a time for change in the classroom, a change summarized as "less is more."
The teaching needs to have greater depth and less breadth. There needs to be more quality collaboration and time to talk and reflect as students complete projects, make decisions, reflect, revise, and present.
February vacation comes at a perfect time as I'll have a week to think about the changing student needs, and I'll change the weekly schedule and curriculum design to reflect that. Onward.
