This is such a good reply! I particularly think it's important for
colleagues to support each other WITH the knowledge and understanding
that not only these, but many expectations are not only unrealistic but
damaging to children.
Renee
On Aug 25, 2010, at 8:48 PM, [email protected] wrote:
MANY excellent teachers are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted with
the demands of planning, differentiating, assessing,and documenting
growth (or lack of) for children who's needs go beyond the resources
of a regular ed classroom. We know we can't possibly meet the needs of
all these children, even if we could clone ourselves, and it is simply
not fair to them if we quietly acquiesce and not scream for a better
plan.
Perhaps what this teacher really needs is for her colleagues to show
that they understand these expectations are extremely unrealistic and
that you will support her in concrete ways rather than recommending
research or critiquing her teaching methods. After all, they are all
of our students, not just hers. Even more, perhaps the best thing
you can do is to let her know that you know she is doing a good job.
The current burn out of dedicated, wonderful teachers is a reflection
of the current state of educational "reforms" and the naivete of the
political bureaucrats initiating them. Putting ELL, Autistic, SPED,
and now even remedial kids into a classroom with little or no support
leads to failure for everyone, including the teacher.
I am sorry to be so down but this really hits a nerve. Today's RTI
meeting was unbelievable. We have a great staff of dedicated, caring,
professionals yet we are numbed by the expectations and the lack of
support available.
We will take a deep breath and do our darnest, but nobody really
believes this is in the best interests of our children.
Please, oh please, isn't it time for the pendulum to swing again???
-----Original Message-----
From: Hillary Marchel <[email protected]>
To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group
<[email protected]>
Sent: Wed, Aug 25, 2010 8:23 pm
Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Ell Students
Thank you for your reply. I probably was not clear in my first email.
I was not
looking for research. I was looking for articles that would build her
confidence
specific to other schools or teachers who have had success with ELL
students in
their schools or classrooms. This teacher instructs using all the best
practices
that you mention. She is an excellent teacher. So you can imagine my
surprise
and disappointment. I believe she is feeling overwhelmed and I can
understand
that but her proposal to put her ELL's in a classroom separate from
her other
students was very disappointing.
Hillary Marchel Reading Specialist
Hawthorn Elementary North
[email protected]
We can take some gratification at having come a certain distance but
it should
be a deeper satisfaction, even an exhilaration, to recognize that we
have such a
distance still to go.
--LEWIS THOMAS
On Aug 25, 2010, at 5:10 PM, [email protected] wrote:
Hi,
I probably am looking at the situation differently than you, but, I
do not
think sharing research in that they are all of our responsibility will
affect the situation.
I believe you are referring to homogeneous vs. heterogeneous
grouping of
students.
What is leading the teacher to view instruction in this manner?
Could it
be that the teacher does not know how or feels insecure in teaching
ELL
students? Does he/she feel it would delay the progress of the other
students?
Could it be that the teacher does not differentiate instruction or
know how
to use the students’ strengths and weaknesses in a lesson? Maybe this
teacher does not know how to work with a colleague in a push-in
program.
These
are just a few possibilities.
I hope this has given you a helpful way to approach the situation.
Casey
In a message dated 8/25/2010 5:13:55 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:
Is there an article I can reference specifying the importance of
teaching
all the students in our classrooms. I have a teacher who wants to put
all
the ELL students in one room and have another teacher support them.
My goal
is for her and many other teachers to understand that as teachers
working
with ELL students in our classroom, although it may be difficult,
they are
all of OUR children. TEACH THEM AND THEY WILL LEARN! PLEASE HELP.
Thanks
Hillary Marchel Reading Specialist
Hawthorn Elementary North
[email protected]
We can take some gratification at having come a certain distance but
it
should be a deeper satisfaction, even an exhilaration, to recognize
that we
have such a distance still to go.
--LEWIS THOMAS
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Man
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