From the Christmas Time

The following account is true, I was that teacher and it has been put
to me that I should tell my story here though I think its rather
boastful.

Over the weekend I spent a good few hours making maths worksheets.
Basically the children do the sums, each answer corresponds with a
letter and they have to answer the question " What does the teacher
want you to do next?" These sheets really do have to be worked out for
them to work, and that means they do take hours to produce... ok so I
decorate them appropriately too. Yesterday's read " draw one thing
santa will bring". Today's read "Make a Christmas card" and of course
they are differentiated into group abilities.

Two days before the end of term, the other teachers are getting all
arty and I am still doing maths. I go over on the board one more time
how to do a Tens and Units sum, first time with carrying ( ten on the
door step knocking to get in) the other without the carrying.
.. " so the answer is 64. Now we look across at our Christmas tree and
we see 64 = B"

" Miss does that mean it one of those code sheets then?"

" yes, yes it does"

The whole class cheered.

I know that must seem boastful but it touched me deeply. It meant I had
managed to do something exciting, something right, I had managed to
make tens and units fun. I don't know how to explain how wonderful that
feels.