Job Discussion Forums

[veiledsentiments]

Carlen... I would say talk to the parents and if you have a few with wasta, use it!! We all know that (most) change won't come from us, it has to come from within. I would arm those parents with the facts and put some wind in their sails... let them blast the management in a way that we would love to do, but can't.

This is what I dislike about a larger centralized system. The system is dumbed down to the lowest common denominator. Get those parents worked up that their kids are being held back because that is exactly what is happening.

It doesn't matter that you are leaving...

VS

[Zoot]

Congratulations, Carlen! Your points should act as a guide to whether people listen to your advice, but as we've seen before on these forums, people always think they're different. I'd say leave MAG on a high note as ap4058 advised. Everyone in the school will remember what you achieved rather than what you didn't if you try to achieve any further. If the students are reading, nothing will stop them now.

[carlen]

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[lorientravel]

Hi Carlen,

I feel your suffering! As you know I am currently working for a school dedicated to Aboriginal education and special education. I too have felt the inadequacies of a system that doubts my students abilities.

I have found the NWEA and DART 'standardized tests' to have the ability to show progress in terms of annual growth in the students as opposed to whether or not students are not meeting or exceeding goals. These tests also are capable of focusing the data received so that teachers can see what skills need further development and what skills the students have a good comprehension of.

The BC provincial government just loves to have students do tests and publishes the results in the newspapers. Often my school doesn't even make the list. What I have been proving with my data results from these tests is that our students are performing far beyond the standard provincial level in terms of growth over the year in literacy and numeracy, even though they are so far below that provincial level they're not even on the BC chart.

Sometimes it just takes finding the right data or the right connection to what you are trying to get across to make people see your point of view.

By the way, they have not YET seen my point of view but at least now they are willing to look... I'm just not sure I'm willing to show them anymore!?

Lorien

[Splitting Hairs]

Basing findings from my reading journal, I concluded that in order for me to improve my teaching of reading, I would need to experiment. Rather than read about techniques, I experimented through observation of my colleagues, and collecting these thoughts in a journal, I was able to build up a repertoire of approaches to reading which I attempted with a variety of my classes. By trying out new ideas, it was possible to learn about the processes of teaching and learning by reflecting on what happened in my classroom. This has inevitably benefited both myself and my learners. In order for me to facilitate the learning of reading I need to understand the process of reading.

[carlen]

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[Zoot]

I agree with you Carlen. Children cannot progress with their reading without being able to get ahold of more challenging reading material, but is it your role to change the world ? Maybe you should take time out to read the Wisdom Prayer. Good luck in your new post and may all the wonderful things you hope to achieve be done there.

[Splitting Hairs]

http://www.readingforlife.org.uk/wikireadia/index.php?title=Teachers

What a site. So many initiatives all found in one place. If only we had something like this in the UAE, reading would be a whole different ball game.

[carlen]

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[veiledsentiments]

Changing a system like this is all about baby steps... and it always seems that it is a good news/bad news situation. So, if nothing else, you have sparked a small group of learners and insha'Allah, their parents will also have been motivated to keep them going.

So, are you job searching or will you move within this project - the margins of which have never been that clear?

VS

[carlen]

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[veiledsentiments]

Good luck!! One does need to be terrible adaptable to survive in these programs. I'm glad to see you have options.

VS

[Splitting Hairs]

Carlen, why did you leave. Please tell us more about the reading program you were going to develop. Were the other MAG as involved?

[carlen]

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[wordsmith]

Thanks for all the great info here.