I did another reading assessment with a student in my room. In September she came to me reading at a Grade 2 level. After a ton of hard work, today she read a book at a Grade 4 level!! This is an incredible improvement! I was so proud of her I cried.
We then phoned her mom - on speaker. After assuring mom that nothing was wrong (as kids don’t often phone moms during the day!) we shared her awesome news. We’re all so proud of her!! Mom promised a treat this weekend. It was a very good day.
Now. Let’s get political.
I teach Grade 7. Students should come to me reading at the far right end of this chart. My goal is to try to get them to the end of this chart before leaving my class.
I’ve circled my student’s progress in the chart. You can see how far she’s come. But you can also see how far she needs to go still. She was reading at a Grade 2 level. In. Grade. 7. Grade 2. In Grade 7.
She has an IEP. This is an individual education plan. This document is meant to identify and meet her needs. Which is all on me. She has no support. She is a hard worker. She doesn’t bite anyone or throws chairs. So she gets no support.
Can you see how many rows are in this chart? There are 30 kids in my class this year. Look at the scattered plots of red. This is the reading level of every student in my room. 1/3 of my class has identified needs. I have 7 students on IEPs. I have 3 identified ESL students.
One third. Of a class of 30. That’s 10 kids with needs beyond a “normal” Grade 7 student.
Not all the “low” red dots are identified students either.
Not all the “low” red dots are identified students either.
Last year I had 22 students. That is the big line I’ve drawn. See the difference 8 students make? That is 8 more students I need to share my attention with. 8 more needs to meet. That is 8 more conferences, 8 more connections, 8 more assessments to complete.
Cuts hurt kids. Cuts mean larger classes. Cuts mean less support. Cuts mean I have to do more with less.
This is why teachers are striking.
This is why teachers are striking.
We are screaming for help. I’ve seen the changes in my 20 years in the class. It is getting worse. And this government is taking more and more. And I’ll be damned before I deliver a sub-standard program.
Please don’t be distracted by those yelling about greedy teachers, more money, summers off. This is not the fight.
The fight is for my students. I need to give them more. Say no to the cuts.
The fight is for my students. I need to give them more. Say no to the cuts.
