Since we restructured the 7th grade, and as a result, split my small math class into 2 even smaller groups, I feel like I am up against a wall with the one class. Granted this is a resource class. Granted this is the lower of the two groups. But even those facts taken into consideration, I feel at a loss as to how to move forward.

Attendance is a huge issue. It always is. But when you are teaching 4 students instead of 25, when one or two are gone, suddenly, you are talking half the class missing out instead of a small percentage. I struggle to find the balance between waiting for them to all be there, and just moving on and getting the content covered. (ICK... did I just say content covered??)

We've been working on fractions and decimals - translating from one to the other - for over a week now. I've done everything I know to do with them to help them understand the concepts. They are still struggling though, with even the simplest (forget the more complex...) problems. The basic understanding that 1/10 and 0.1 are the same thing. The basic concept that 2.5 = 2 1/2. We have drawn pictures, learned the process, taken notes, worked on whiteboards as a group, worked independently. Started over. Started over. Started over. I am frustrated. They are tired and really don't care anymore.

Do I just move on? Or do I back up and beat that dead horse one more time?

My concern, my always concern... math sequential. They are missing soooooooooooo many concepts... so many gaps in their basic mathematical understandings....How can I justify leaving another HUGE hole?