My California district sent all teachers to a one week seminar put out by Professional Development Reading Institutes this summer. It is sponsored by Reading Lions Center/Sacramento County Office of Education. The purpose of the training was to show us how to correctly implement HM.
I use the MOT strategies and have read (and tried to implement) many of the professional books discussed in this group. Many/most teachers in my school use these strategies too. I think I am a good teacher; the staff at my school is excellent. My school is one of the highest rated schools in the state . However, look at these results for the state tests for students in my school: 38% of students in second grade, 51% in third grade, 34% in fourth grade, 44% in fifth grade, and 28% in sixth grade are basic or below basic on the state tests. These % are far, far, far, above the state % for proficient and advanced. The % figures for the state of California for basic and below basic are as follows for Language Arts: Gr2: 53%; Gr3 63%; Gr4: 51%; Gr5: 57%; Gr6: 59%. These % scare me. I'm sure they scare the state education officials too. Our district was concerned too and this is the reason all teachers are being paid to attend these trainings. Each state has their own tests and some states that look proficient on state-administered tests are woefully failing if reading is measured on national tests? There are far too many children in our schools who are not "reading"; they are just word-calling. We can't put all the blame on basals because many teachers are not using basals. I'm not so sure we can blame the test either; the test does test the standards. Most teachers work extremely hard and are trying to do their best to teach. Some teachers use too many worksheets. Some parents are not supportive. Middle school and high school teachers, college professors, and employers are all commenting on the fact that there is a problem with the reading, writing, and math of their students/employees. Poverty, EL students, etc. are among the reasons for the low scores. There are many other factors too. However, we have to accept the fact that these are our students. We have to teach them. We can't afford to have these students drop out or muddle through school somehow. NCLB may be a politically motivated document. However, the reading rates are alarming. Are you meeting the needs of 90% of your students? _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
