Back to It!

We are back in the swing of things at my school.  It feels like much has already been accomplished since we have returned from holiday break.  In 1st grade, when January arrives it brings with it an increase in pacing and new curriculum to add to the day.  We will be starting our timed math facts tests by the end of the month.  So we are practicing for this in class.  The students are responsible for practicing this at home as well.  I don't know the name of the program we use.  It was not a purchased program from a company.  It has been handed down for years now.  Below is a picture of the worksheets we use for the timed tests.

Many of the kids like the challenge of being timed, but some get very nervous about it.  To combat the test nerves, I teach them breathing techniques to help them focus and relax.  We also do positive visualizations of ourselves feeling very comfortable with the test, knowing a lot of the answers easily, and feeling good about the test when it is completed.  They giggle the first couple of times we do this, but then they ask to do it as the year progresses.  I think relaxation techniques are important for young children to learn.  We live in such a high stress society, we need to help our young ones learn to deal with the pressures they will come face to face with.

I am so glad we have Monday off!  Have a great weekend everyone.