So, here it is the fifth week of school and a student almost cried in my class. I gave them their first test on Friday August 31st. Right before a three day weekend. I gave them their scores back on Tuesday September 4th and they were not happy. I was looking across the room and noticed one of my student was looking at me and it looked like she was about to start crying. I realized I did not explain strongly enough the grade they had in their hand was a test grade and not the grade in class (total).

I got up and addressed the class explaining again how this was the grade for one test, the first test of the year. Class grades are higher than the test grades. Although, some may have gotten a F on the test no one, repeat no one, in any of my classes has an F in class. Also, the first test of the year is always the worst test in any class. They will get used to the tests I give and get better at them. And when I do a review and tell them they can use their notes they will take notes from now on! She felt much better after I re-explained about the grade she was holding.

I also decided to give some extra credit. These students really care about their grades. The extra credit is worth seven points and is the same type of problems as their test.

Let me tell you, the hardest thing to teach in math is adding and subtracting negative numbers. I can't think of a way to teach it that clicks with them. I tried number lines and other manipulatives. They just get stuck the a negative is subtract and go from there. Oh well...they get adding and subtracting fractions and we have moved onto graphing. I hope they can keep their x-axis and y-axis straight.