I started this year with an idea, an idea that learning was going to be fun. Even bigger, learning MATH was going to be fun. We built towers and houses, even a website and a game. Students asked questions, worked together, shared ideas, laughed, and learned math. We used math vocabulary to describe what we were doing, and my students had fun. It was first semester. Second semester came, and with it, major changes. I had to let go of some content and embrace a different paradigm for DAEP school. I now supervise independent learning for some students, while teaching others. I may have less content, but I have more record keeping (have I mentioned that I am not very good at record keeping?) My days seem longer and I have noticed that I have fallen into the trap of "direct teaching" for an entire class period. This new group of students gives an appearance of not wanting to fall behind, but grades for the previous semester sugges...