Mary, I've been in your shoes before in regards the test scores. I was the lone ranger using strategies and while I had plenty of kids passing, they weren't necessarily showing the "growth" that the state expected of them. Last year I decided to continue my in-depth strategy instruction but incorporated a lot of QAR instruction and application. Not only did my kids do great on the test AND show growth, but they left my class loving reading and writing--kind of like having your cake and eating it too. Then I moved down to kindergarten where I didn't have to worry about the "test":-) Now I get to be the "kick-off" to strategies and can only hope that their future teachers harvest what I have sowed. I briefly contemplated moving back up to the upper elementary grades until the scores for this year came back--I got that sick to my stomach feeling/anxiety/worry that I'd had for the previous three years and I realized that I'm not ready to jump back into that fire! Keep doing what you're doing and feel good that you are providing your students with skills/strategies that will last a lifetime--test scores and bubble sheets will not.
Nicole in NC _______________________________________________ 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.
