Day of prolonged cruelty

Wow, my kids made it through the day. I'm not doubting their abilities, I'm admiring their staying power. To get ready for the ITBS test in four weeks we started to take a practice test. As a grade level we came up with the idea that we would go through the pratice math test today, look at the data, and figure out a way to divide up the grade among the 3/4 teachers...(another long story there). Well, we had to take a bit of time to get ready in the morning, but we started it around nine AM. After about 1 hour and 20 minutes later I decided my kids needed a brain break. The really cannot focus for more than an hour. So we took a brain break to sing a song, read a story, get a drink of water. The rest of the day was basically consumed by going over the test with them. I had them switch papers, and mark the wrong answers that their neighbors got. Wowly gosh. It really took the rest of the day to go over it. In trying to meet other people's expectations I've not really been able to provide the structure that my kids need right now. (Aside: Kids be wantin' stickers) My list today focuses primarily on Xander because he provided me with my favorite moments.

1. When the TA came to take him to the resource room he refused to get up. He shook his head "no" and did not want to get up. It took some encouraging words from the TA and myself to finall get him to go. It was heartwarming to see him want to stay in my room, especially when we were in the middle of massively brain-taxing testing.
2. When he came back from the resource room I tried to set him up with some writing task. I showed him a picture of a cat running. When I asked him to give me a sentence for him to write down he said, "The cat is running in the nude." Asking a clarifying question I asked, "What is, 'in the nude'?" He replied, "When you fold your clothes and run in the nude." I had to walk away very quickly and laugh with my TA.
3. When taking the test there was a picture of a performing elephant, with a hat and everything. He pointed it and said, "Happy, happy birthday to you." Result: Laughing with my TA again.
4. When I told the secretary (his aunt) about the "in the nude" comment she laughed and told me that he really likes my class. He moved into my class about a month and a half into the school year from another room. She said that he likes my room so much more than the last room he was in.

It's moments like those that let me know that I am making a difference and there are things that are going right in my classroom. Now let's see if I can include more struture into my room tomorrow.