I'm a 2nd grade teacher in a low SES urban school. I'm stuck on a student. She has good decoding skills and comprehension. She is a DRA instructional M (independent M). However when it comes to pen and paper assessments, she does not do well. We use Harcourt Trophies (which I am not a fan of) and she is consistantly failing the end of story tests. I have sat with her, she is allowed to use the book to refer back to-but she still does not do well. There are also Holistic tests that are given at the end of each "unit" and she does poorly on those as well (read a selection and answer comprehension questions). We are required to report Holistic grades to our principal, who then questions us on students who do poorly. All of my anecdotal records from Readers Workshop and Guided Reading indicate she is a strong reader with good comprehension skills. The only indicator of low level is her mandated assessments. (I am the only teacher who grades based on GR and RW conferences, the others all use just the end of story tests). I'm thinking it could just be a case of test anxiety, or rushing through the test. Is there anything I can do to cover myself so that I don't come under fire for not referring this student to intervention? I know she can do the work, she just doesn't show it on her tests.
Thanks On Tue, Apr 6, 2010 at 12:00 PM, <[email protected]>wrote: > Send Mosaic mailing list submissions to > [email protected] > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/listinfo/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org > > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > [email protected] > > You can reach the person managing the list at > [email protected] > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Mosaic digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: literacy models (Nancy Ehrlich) > 2. Re: literacy models (Karen Williams(2141)) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 5 Apr 2010 12:30:58 -0400 > From: Nancy Ehrlich <[email protected]> > To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" > <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] literacy models > Message-ID: > <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > I've attached some links if you are a Donnalyn Miller fan. (I'm not her > agent. Just like her philosophy and wanted to provide resources!) > > If you are on Twitter, Donnalyn Miller is great to follow. Here is the > link: > http://twitter.com/donalynbooks > > Also, you can become a "fan" on Facebook. Here is the link: > > http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Book-Whisperer/122318753549?ref=nfJustsearch > her name and you will find her. > > She writes great blogs, too. Here is the link: > > http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/book_whisperer/2010/04/resources_for_discovering_book_2.html > > Another great read is Kelly Gallagher's Readicide: How Schools Are Killing > Reading and What You Can Do About It (I found it on Amazon.) > > Hope this is helpful. > > On Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 9:05 AM, Karen Williams(2141) < > [email protected]> wrote: > > > Totally agree! I have been reading this awesome book about your > > topic...it is called the Book Whisperer, by Donnalyn Miller. It is a > > must read for ALL teachers. I am actually going to email my teachers to > > tell them about this book and how they need to read it over the summer. > > It talks about workshops and how it works....great stuff... > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: mosaic-bounces+williamska=palmbeach.k12.fl...@literacyworkshop.org > > [mailto:mosaic-bounces+williamska > > <mosaic-bounces%2Bwilliamska><mosaic-bounces%2Bwilliamska>= > > [email protected] > > rg] On Behalf Of Nancy Ehrlich > > Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 7:38 PM > > To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group > > Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] literacy models > > > > I totally feel your frustration. I am the only one at my school using > > Reading Workshop/Strategies approach. No one else wants to learn it. I > > have found that those who embrace the basals are those with the most > > fear > > and insecurity. They follow the philosophy of "I followed the > > prescription, > > so it isn't my fault if the student doesn't succeed." Also, the teacher > > next door to me loves the basal due to the routine. She does the same > > "type" of activity every week. Vocabulary on Monday, Skill of the week > > on > > Tuesday, Read the story with the class on Wednesday, etc. She loves > > structure. > > > > Here is the good news: the student teacher I am getting in the fall > > LOVES > > strategies. She was my student observer this winter and said everyone > > of > > her reading courses focused on Reading Strategies. Hooray!! She is so > > excited about the technique and can't wait to try it. NO bad habits to > > break. > > > > Thank goodness we have this group to discuss what matters. > > > > On Mon, Mar 29, 2010 at 6:36 PM, Yingling <[email protected]> > > wrote: > > > > > As of right now, we don't have a basal and at my level we use novels. > > But, > > > that will probably change next year and it's not because of our > > principal. A > > > lot of our teachers want a basal because - I'm quoting here - it will > > tell > > > me what to do! I can't believe this! I'm getting so frustrated > > because I > > > simply think they're being lazy. I have repeatedly shared websites, > > > resources, and yahoogroups with them but now of them choose to use > > them. I > > > think only one other teacher in the building has even heard of MOT or > > > Strategies That Work. > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > > >> Is there any schools/districts who are not invested in a "program" or > > >> series and using a comprehensive literacy model approach finding data > > and > > >> research providing the effectiveness? I am wondering because I am in > > a > > >> school that once had a balanced literacy model implemented then when > > >> administration and times changed, so did the model and they went with > > a > > >> basal series to provide "continuity" which some teachers need and > > love and > > >> left others feeling hopeless. I have been looking at models again but > > know > > >> that with funding issues, implementing a model in its entirety may > > not be > > >> the most effective if it doesn't get implemented in it entirety! So, > > are > > >> there any schools that have created their own literacy frameworks and > > allows > > >> it to grow and change based on their students' needs? > > >> > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > 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. > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Nancy > > _______________________________________________ > > 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. > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > > --------------Palm Beach County Schools--------------------- > > > > Rated "A" by the Florida Department of Education 2005-2009 > > > > -----Home of Florida's first LEED Gold Certified School----- > > -----------http://www.palmbeachschools.org------------- > > > > The District of Palm Beach County is an Equal Education Opportunity > > Provider and Employer. Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are > > public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in > > response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail > > to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in > > writing. > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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. > > > > > > > -- > Nancy > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Mon, 5 Apr 2010 13:54:09 -0400 > From: "Karen Williams\(2141\)" <[email protected]> > To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" > <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] literacy models > Message-ID: > < > 926fd9300cb26749a177baedaa0aa17503e5a...@pbmail9.palmbeach.k12.fl.us> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > You are the best... thanks for the headsup! > > -----Original Message----- > From: mosaic-bounces+williamska=palmbeach.k12.fl...@literacyworkshop.org > [mailto:mosaic-bounces+williamska <mosaic-bounces%2Bwilliamska>= > [email protected] > rg] On Behalf Of Nancy Ehrlich > Sent: Monday, April 05, 2010 12:31 PM > To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group > Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] literacy models > > I've attached some links if you are a Donnalyn Miller fan. (I'm not her > agent. Just like her philosophy and wanted to provide resources!) > > If you are on Twitter, Donnalyn Miller is great to follow. Here is the > link: > http://twitter.com/donalynbooks > > Also, you can become a "fan" on Facebook. Here is the link: > http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Book-Whisperer/122318753549?ref=nfJust > search > her name and you will find her. > > She writes great blogs, too. Here is the link: > http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/book_whisperer/2010/04/resources_for_di > scovering_book_2.html > > Another great read is Kelly Gallagher's Readicide: How Schools Are > Killing > Reading and What You Can Do About It (I found it on Amazon.) > > Hope this is helpful. > > On Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 9:05 AM, Karen Williams(2141) < > [email protected]> wrote: > > > Totally agree! I have been reading this awesome book about your > > topic...it is called the Book Whisperer, by Donnalyn Miller. It is a > > must read for ALL teachers. I am actually going to email my teachers > to > > tell them about this book and how they need to read it over the > summer. > > It talks about workshops and how it works....great stuff... > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: > mosaic-bounces+williamska=palmbeach.k12.fl...@literacyworkshop.org > > [mailto:mosaic-bounces+williamska > > <mosaic-bounces%2Bwilliamska><mosaic-bounces%2Bwilliamska>= > > [email protected] > > rg] On Behalf Of Nancy Ehrlich > > Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 7:38 PM > > To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group > > Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] literacy models > > > > I totally feel your frustration. I am the only one at my school using > > Reading Workshop/Strategies approach. No one else wants to learn it. > I > > have found that those who embrace the basals are those with the most > > fear > > and insecurity. They follow the philosophy of "I followed the > > prescription, > > so it isn't my fault if the student doesn't succeed." Also, the > teacher > > next door to me loves the basal due to the routine. She does the same > > "type" of activity every week. Vocabulary on Monday, Skill of the > week > > on > > Tuesday, Read the story with the class on Wednesday, etc. She loves > > structure. > > > > Here is the good news: the student teacher I am getting in the fall > > LOVES > > strategies. She was my student observer this winter and said everyone > > of > > her reading courses focused on Reading Strategies. Hooray!! She is > so > > excited about the technique and can't wait to try it. NO bad habits > to > > break. > > > > Thank goodness we have this group to discuss what matters. > > > > On Mon, Mar 29, 2010 at 6:36 PM, Yingling <[email protected]> > > wrote: > > > > > As of right now, we don't have a basal and at my level we use > novels. > > But, > > > that will probably change next year and it's not because of our > > principal. A > > > lot of our teachers want a basal because - I'm quoting here - it > will > > tell > > > me what to do! I can't believe this! I'm getting so frustrated > > because I > > > simply think they're being lazy. I have repeatedly shared websites, > > > resources, and yahoogroups with them but now of them choose to use > > them. I > > > think only one other teacher in the building has even heard of MOT > or > > > Strategies That Work. > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > > >> Is there any schools/districts who are not invested in a "program" > or > > >> series and using a comprehensive literacy model approach finding > data > > and > > >> research providing the effectiveness? I am wondering because I am > in > > a > > >> school that once had a balanced literacy model implemented then > when > > >> administration and times changed, so did the model and they went > with > > a > > >> basal series to provide "continuity" which some teachers need and > > love and > > >> left others feeling hopeless. I have been looking at models again > but > > know > > >> that with funding issues, implementing a model in its entirety may > > not be > > >> the most effective if it doesn't get implemented in it entirety! > So, > > are > > >> there any schools that have created their own literacy frameworks > and > > allows > > >> it to grow and change based on their students' needs? > > >> > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > 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. > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Nancy > > _______________________________________________ > > 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. > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > > --------------Palm Beach County Schools--------------------- > > > > Rated "A" by the Florida Department of Education 2005-2009 > > > > -----Home of Florida's first LEED Gold Certified School----- > > -----------http://www.palmbeachschools.org------------- > > > > The District of Palm Beach County is an Equal Education Opportunity > > Provider and Employer. Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are > > public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in > > response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail > > to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in > > writing. > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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. > > > > > > > -- > Nancy > _______________________________________________ > 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. > > End of Mosaic Digest, Vol 44, Issue 5 > ************************************* > -- "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." -- Albert Einstein _______________________________________________ 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.
