Hi Kathy,
I think we're all in agreement that elementary teachers work hard to
make sure that all students can (and do) read.
It is, however, true that I have students reading well below grade
level. When I see them, the reason is no longer important. I need to
figure out the best way I can to help those students.
I'm glad to see that at least some people think that middle school
students need to give up electives in order to get more time on
reading. I'm going to see if that is an idea my building is willing to
embrace.
Jan
Quoting kea...@aol.com:
When a middle schooler or high school student is reading on an elementary
level, It's easy to assume that somebody below didnt do it "right" .
But as an
elementary teacher, I just need to say that we bust our butts on
those students
who are below grade level. We meet with them daily in small group
and and are
always hovering by their desks to help them with added support. We provide
them with as much intensive support as availalbe from reading
teachers,we work
with parents, set up before and after school buddy pals, and nightly
send home
books at their level for them to practice and now with RTI. probably spend
triple the amount of time planning lessons and assessing these
students as we do
our grade level or advanced student.
We take so much abuse from the "political public" about how all we
need is good
teaching and all will be right with the students.
I have to caution you not to buy into this. Students who struggle learning to
read have many and varied causes, and we have yet to find the cause
or "cure"
for all of them. Please, dont play the bashing game and blame the
other guy. Chances are, your own success with these kiddos will be as
limited.
Kathy
-----Original Message-----
From: Denise Diana Saddler <ddavi...@fau.edu>
To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group
<mosaic@literacyworkshop.org>; write <wr...@centurytel.net>
Sent: Thu, Jul 21, 2011 7:15 pm
Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] "Better" reading instruction...sigh...
Hi Jan
I am glad you ask that question about the hypothetical 8th grader who
currently
read on a 4th grade level what can we do. Well just to inform you I
currently
teach intensive reading for middle school students 6-8th grade and
many of them
do read on an elementary grade level. Our school has a block
schedule in which
students goes to three classes on one day and three different classes on the
next (alternating class), which also include extra-curricular
activities. The
students who have my class, have there required classes, such as
Language Arts,
Math, etc..., but because they have Intensive Reading they do not get
extra-curricular activities instead they see me every day of the week
not only
on alternate days. By the way our school is an “A” school again
this year,
thank God. I believe that if schools would take the initiative and
make sure
that a child receive all the help necessary for the child to be able
to read on
grade level before they are move on to the next grade or take drastic
action to
make sure that the child catch up to their reading grade level then
we will have
less student in the 8th grade reading on a 4th grade level. It is not easy,
trust me I have the real deal, the 8th graders who do read on a very
low level
but was just pass on through the system; but, it is possible if the
school work
as a team.
Denise D. Saddler
>
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