There is a lot of pressure on teachers to perform and perform well under any circumstance. This year our school was moved the the SINA list (Schools in Need of Improvement). We were not able to make the expected growth and reach the goal of 100% proficient in the areas of reading. Let's look at that number again- 100% ... Is that even realistic? I know it's not mathematically possible to have 100% proficient. We needed 85% to reach safe harbor we had 80%. 5%= about 15 children of all tested. Well, what now?
We can beat ourselves up, we can ask what we did "wrong", we can make excuses (legit or not) or we can move on and ask what can we do to improve. The tests aren't going to get easier, the expectations will not lessen, and we cannot control the environments in which our children come from. So what can we do?
Well this summer I read more about ways to improve my instruction. Ways that are supported by research, years of research and authentic evidence gained in a classroom. I've gone back to my favorite authors and reread what they see as best practice in order to see where I can improve. Anyone who thinks teachers just take the summer off are kidding themselves- this is the time we can refocus, regroup, and find ways to improve our craft.
I started with Patrick Allen's Conferring. Now some people may not like the flow of the book or find it dry, I on the other hand love his approach to conferring and how he starts the year setting the tone for respect that fosters communication within and between himself and his students.
Then I went back to my other favorite author Kylene Beers in Notice & Note. If there is one regret from last year it was not getting my hands on this book sooner! I read and implemented her strategies in February- it would have been great to have started that at the begininning of the year (which is my plan for this year). This text looks at having kids notice "signposts" within the text and evaluating them to gain a deeper understanding of the characters and story development. Love. Love. Love this book!
Lastly, to dive more into writing instruction and conferring in workshop I turned to Mr. Carl Anderson. You cannot go wrong with his books! He has great practical ideas and lessons that help you confidently teach and confer in the writer's workshop.
Whew! Long and lengthy post about a summer of what some might call "boring" reading. But, no matter what anyone says teaching is not simple- you should NEVER pull out the same exact old lessons you've done for the past however many years and never take time to reflect on whether they are actually meaningful, and purposeful. That is exactly what I do each summer and all throughout the school year. Is it work? Heck yeah- but it's my job, I'm good at it, and I want to continue to be good at it.
