I would never say anything's guaranteed in our present financial state, but I think this has gained me some job security!
This is the first year our building has offered additional reading support to students, general or special education, who are not proficient readers (those scoring at or below the 41st percentile, or 8th grade level, on ITBS). Our building action plan this year was to create a supplemental reading class, taught by one general and one special education teacher to whoever was in need. There are two 8th grade reading lab classes, one taught by myself and my collaborative language arts teacher (who rocks!). We started the year with 22 kids, 9 special education and 13 general education kids, ranging in abilities from 5th grade readers to 7th grade readers. We've practiced skills the group has been lacking, through radio plays, readers theater, drill and practice, pair reading with 1st graders at Lawson Elementary and modeling and practicing. Our group is what I call the "Head of the Class group." Like the '80's TV show, they want to sit on raditators, tip chairs, throw paper, and so on. It is frustrating at times, because it appears that they don't care what we're trying to do (which is help them!) and it makes you doubt yourself.
Until today.
We took ITBS in Janurary. This year, tests were administered differently than in years past. We also put a pretty high bribe out for our kids: meet your goal and we'd take them to lunch at the mall food court and bowling for the afternoon. We did goal setting as a group. A growth of 5 points is significant. Most of our kids had 7th grade scores at the 1st - 10th percentile. So, even if they did make 5 points of improvement - which, in January, I was sure they wouldn't - they still wouldn't be proficient. But progress is progress.
This is what they did. And I was so proud I nearly cried!
The top scores are our reading lab kids. Of our orignial 22, 20 made progress (one dropped, but the test was read to him last year - illegal! And the other drop was due to not "fitting in" with the class). Of those who showed growth, all showed significant growth! We now have 7 proficient readers, including 3 of my special education kids! And we have a couple who are very close!
Proving once again, they may be hellions, but they're our hellions, and we're so very proud of them!!!
This is the first year our building has offered additional reading support to students, general or special education, who are not proficient readers (those scoring at or below the 41st percentile, or 8th grade level, on ITBS). Our building action plan this year was to create a supplemental reading class, taught by one general and one special education teacher to whoever was in need. There are two 8th grade reading lab classes, one taught by myself and my collaborative language arts teacher (who rocks!). We started the year with 22 kids, 9 special education and 13 general education kids, ranging in abilities from 5th grade readers to 7th grade readers. We've practiced skills the group has been lacking, through radio plays, readers theater, drill and practice, pair reading with 1st graders at Lawson Elementary and modeling and practicing. Our group is what I call the "Head of the Class group." Like the '80's TV show, they want to sit on raditators, tip chairs, throw paper, and so on. It is frustrating at times, because it appears that they don't care what we're trying to do (which is help them!) and it makes you doubt yourself.
Until today.
We took ITBS in Janurary. This year, tests were administered differently than in years past. We also put a pretty high bribe out for our kids: meet your goal and we'd take them to lunch at the mall food court and bowling for the afternoon. We did goal setting as a group. A growth of 5 points is significant. Most of our kids had 7th grade scores at the 1st - 10th percentile. So, even if they did make 5 points of improvement - which, in January, I was sure they wouldn't - they still wouldn't be proficient. But progress is progress.
This is what they did. And I was so proud I nearly cried!
The top scores are our reading lab kids. Of our orignial 22, 20 made progress (one dropped, but the test was read to him last year - illegal! And the other drop was due to not "fitting in" with the class). Of those who showed growth, all showed significant growth! We now have 7 proficient readers, including 3 of my special education kids! And we have a couple who are very close!
Proving once again, they may be hellions, but they're our hellions, and we're so very proud of them!!!
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