Submitted by Jennifer (not verified) on March 24, 2008 - 18:45.
I absolutely love the idea of a mandatory study session at the higher grade levels. I teach first grade and I too do not accept failure as an option. I know that what I am doing in the lower grades ultimately affects a child in the later years. I do not agree with pushing on a child and assuming that he or she will just "magically" catch up. I think just as we do not accept failure that we should not accept pushing them on. I have had a few first graders who do not meet grade level expectations all year long. In my eyes they should be held back at this age as they are young. A repeated year will be beneficial now rather than later. When I have a struggling student we have an intervention plan called SAT (i.e. student assistance team). I refer them to the team (assistant principal, school psychologist, special ed. teacher, parent of child, and myself) get the paperwork started. We sit down together and discuss the particular child and his or her progress. We talk with the parents and pull the child's records. We come up with new interventions to try in the classroom and if the interventions do not prove successful after about a month or two then the student is tested. If they qualify then he or she will receive special services (i.e. resource). It seems it is very hard in my school / district to hold a child back. If they qualify for services most of the time the child goes on to the next grade level. I do not accept failure. I set expectations for my students very high and we work at till we get it. I do everything in "my" power that I can to help a child in my classroom. I enjoyed this blog. Thanks for sharing everyone!
Mandatory study sessions
Submitted by Jennifer (not verified) on March 24, 2008 - 18:45.
I absolutely love the idea of a mandatory study session at the higher grade levels. I teach first grade and I too do not accept failure as an option. I know that what I am doing in the lower grades ultimately affects a child in the later years. I do not agree with pushing on a child and assuming that he or she will just "magically" catch up. I think just as we do not accept failure that we should not accept pushing them on. I have had a few first graders who do not meet grade level expectations all year long. In my eyes they should be held back at this age as they are young. A repeated year will be beneficial now rather than later. When I have a struggling student we have an intervention plan called SAT (i.e. student assistance team). I refer them to the team (assistant principal, school psychologist, special ed. teacher, parent of child, and myself) get the paperwork started. We sit down together and discuss the particular child and his or her progress. We talk with the parents and pull the child's records. We come up with new interventions to try in the classroom and if the interventions do not prove successful after about a month or two then the student is tested. If they qualify then he or she will receive special services (i.e. resource). It seems it is very hard in my school / district to hold a child back. If they qualify for services most of the time the child goes on to the next grade level. I do not accept failure. I set expectations for my students very high and we work at till we get it. I do everything in "my" power that I can to help a child in my classroom. I enjoyed this blog. Thanks for sharing everyone!