to be thankful
what does it mean to be thankful?
i was recently faced with the charge of moving my students 20% on the upcoming isats (the state tests). here's the breakdown: currently of the 6th graders only 42% are meeting or exceeding standards (which by the way are not that high given what a typical 6th grader should be entitled to in their education). as for 7th and 8th, only 60-some% of each grade are meeting or exceeding standards.
inner thoughts: suck. suck. suck.
my stream of complaints--i have 35 students in a classroom; 6th, 7th, and 8th all at once; 45 minutes for instruction IF im lucky; and a mixture of crazies and babies.
fast forward to yesterday...
we're taking a non-fiction test for reading. my boy julius sits there in frustration. why? because the boy has traveled from grade level to grade level, never having been taught how to read. he now sits in my class, as a 6th grader, staring at words that he can decode or comprehend. it doesnt help that hes a mere 4 foot tall boy and i love to squeeze him like a little child (which im working on to stop because every time i do he says "ms. wang, why you treat me baby?"). i pull him aside and ask him what's going on. he starts squirming. he also has a speech impediment so he mutters and slurs everything he says. he begins to fuss. i ask him to try with the test. he grunts. i tell him he can come back in during his prep to finish up the test if needed. he then begins to huff and puff and show signs that hes going to burst and walk off. (this has happened before). i grab him, crouch to be at his level, and i say straight up: "Julius, I know it's hard when you can't read. I'm not gonna let you pass 6th grade without learning how to read. That is NOT going to happen again. And you WILL learn because you CAN." Perhaps a bit too harsh for the kid. Perhaps it was what was needed, to point out what is true. Whatever the case is/was, he looks at me and says, "Can I stay after school with you?"
Julius didnt finish the test. I gave him an alternate test. And he completed it. And after school we worked together to write a "5-Paragraph" personal essay on why his aunt is the bestest.
im thankful that hearts can be changed. and motivated. and encouraged. as was mine. by julius.
i was recently faced with the charge of moving my students 20% on the upcoming isats (the state tests). here's the breakdown: currently of the 6th graders only 42% are meeting or exceeding standards (which by the way are not that high given what a typical 6th grader should be entitled to in their education). as for 7th and 8th, only 60-some% of each grade are meeting or exceeding standards.
inner thoughts: suck. suck. suck.
my stream of complaints--i have 35 students in a classroom; 6th, 7th, and 8th all at once; 45 minutes for instruction IF im lucky; and a mixture of crazies and babies.
fast forward to yesterday...
we're taking a non-fiction test for reading. my boy julius sits there in frustration. why? because the boy has traveled from grade level to grade level, never having been taught how to read. he now sits in my class, as a 6th grader, staring at words that he can decode or comprehend. it doesnt help that hes a mere 4 foot tall boy and i love to squeeze him like a little child (which im working on to stop because every time i do he says "ms. wang, why you treat me baby?"). i pull him aside and ask him what's going on. he starts squirming. he also has a speech impediment so he mutters and slurs everything he says. he begins to fuss. i ask him to try with the test. he grunts. i tell him he can come back in during his prep to finish up the test if needed. he then begins to huff and puff and show signs that hes going to burst and walk off. (this has happened before). i grab him, crouch to be at his level, and i say straight up: "Julius, I know it's hard when you can't read. I'm not gonna let you pass 6th grade without learning how to read. That is NOT going to happen again. And you WILL learn because you CAN." Perhaps a bit too harsh for the kid. Perhaps it was what was needed, to point out what is true. Whatever the case is/was, he looks at me and says, "Can I stay after school with you?"
Julius didnt finish the test. I gave him an alternate test. And he completed it. And after school we worked together to write a "5-Paragraph" personal essay on why his aunt is the bestest.
im thankful that hearts can be changed. and motivated. and encouraged. as was mine. by julius.
that makes me sad...:( i hate it when kids slip thru the cracks or just get passed on bc the teachers are frustrated w/them. i'm doing my best so my kiddies can be the best readers EVER!!! =P but dude...the english language sucks. i feel so bad for my kids who have to deal w/all the crazy exceptions when they haven't even mastered speaking english!!!! i really enjoy reading all your teacher stories so keep on writing! :) and thanx for responding to my last comment...=P
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