My 5th period class is becoming more of a challenge than I originally thought. Why? Because my students are all on completely different levels. Sure, in order to be in Welding and Fabrication as Juniors and Seniors, the students must first complete the Metals course. The real trick comes when there are students in the class who were able to pass the previous pre-req course of Metals, but are not at the level of the other students in the class. What I mean is there is a distinct dividing line in the class between the students who struggle with basic measurements. Some of the boys in my class don't even know how to use a ruler. At all. I assembled a basic lesson, with handouts, to work on measurements because HRVHS is scoring very low on the OAKS tests in measuring. Half of my class is quite advanced in math and the other half struggles through very simple problems.

It is so distinct to the point where a measuring activity took half of the class hardly 5 minutes to complete and the rest of the class over 20 minutes. The students who were left in the classroom working on their handouts the longest often gave up or simply copied each others' handouts. It's really frustrating, because I don't really know what to do about it. Even after really breaking down measuring for the students some of them still don't get it. I don't want to half to single out students for not knowing the assignments, but I don't feel right for allowing them to continue on without knowing basic measurements. Measuring is so important! Regardless of state tests.

I definitely have to commend some of my students for their dedication. One student in particular. He's at the table with the other students who don't know what is going on, but are too embarrassed to ask for help to solve things, but if I'm at the table and at a close proximity, he will mumble that he needs help on something. Once I've helped him, the other students at the table listen in, otherwise, most of them are just completely lost.