A Thought

We are an assessment-driven district (to say the least) and last week, on the 2 days we were in attendance, common assessments were given. The common assessments were reassessing skills that our students, as a grade level, had failed to demonstrate mastery of on our last benchmark--in less academic language, they bombed these standards.

So, reteaching began. Thanks to my newly-reconstructed reading program, my students have had opportunities to finally learn just how the heck to answer these types of questions (cause and effect, fact and opinion, inferring, and drawing conclusions). What with my renewed efforts to fit in the teaching of these skills in order to give a specific quiz on the weekly skill, they greatly improved their scores. In fact, my inclusion class had the highest average score on the common assessment.

And to whom do I owe thanks for my newly-reconstructed reading program? That's right--Rotney's Educational Administrator. By her misbegotten effort to ensure that Rotney scored A's on the reading tests (i.e., obtaining the test book and teaching him the answers) I was forced to get creative. My class is benefiting. I'm working harder, but enjoying the results. So, thanks EA! I owe you one!