WWSD?
In this new, possibly recurring, topic, I will pose a situation that comes from the classroom for you all to decide on how you might handle it. The title, WWSD?, stands for our esteemed Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings. The events may have happened, or they are simply figments of my odd imagination.
A group of 9th graders enter the year below grade level in reading. They are placed in an English class and an English support class. No curriculum exists until after the second semester begins.
Many of these same 9th graders enter their 10th grade year even further behind grade level, while the state exam awaits them in March. This year, they are placed together in a block style class that combines the reading support and now the writing support into one longer period. After receiving their state exam scores, it is clear that they still need much help.
So, because the state requires the school to do "something different," you must decide what happens to this group of kids. Remember, they have been together for two years and have tried two very different approaches.
posted by Mr. McNamar @ 5:31 PM
4 Comments
4 Comments:
I like this little project! But are we to approach it from our present position? As an administrator, or what?
As a teacher, I think I would take advantage of the kids' relationship, building the community up further with a common project, preferably something with the community, thus giving the kiddos greater motivation. I would either have them read to younger kids or work out a penpal system about reading with younger kids (or maybe both) so they could feel like experts and want to grow.
They won't ask the teachers, what to do, they will come up with some "idea" that will meet the criteria of something different, andnot something that meets student needs.
We go through something similar every year at my school
I think we should take a random survey of some Representatives and Senators and then do what they think is best, since they clearly know better than us.
I'd go ask what teacher TMAO is doing with a similar bunch of kids who came to his class not knowing how to read. He seems to think he'll get them up to grade level in a reasonable time, though probably not in your tight time frame.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home