That's one of the things that has always concerned me about the "no child left behind" ruling/law, whatever it is. You have a couple of third graders who are a year to a year and a half behind, esp in their reading and if she passes them through just barely by the skin of their teeth....them going into the fourth grade, they will be struggling to keep up w/the rest of their peers. And IMO, it hurts the child because they have to work twice, if not three times as hard, struggling just to keep up.
I know it's gotta be hard on ya hun, having to retain one of your third graders, but yet, you don't want him struggling to keep up in the fourth grade if you actually promoted him to grade four when he is struggling enough as is, kwim? You're a great teacher, it's not your fault and given what you explained, it's not the child's fault either. Poor kid, I kinda feel bad for him because it sounds like he never really had parental figures or support to motivate him and to help him, you know?
On another note, I am taking it easy this weekend! It's been a loooooong, hard, week lol! I'm just going to take it easy this weekend and plus, I won't be at the office next week as I'll be working from home on-call working nights Mon - Thur. So technically, I have MLK day off, during the day, everyone else will be in the office while I sleep in that morning lol. Yeah, I'm definitely going to be catching up on much needed rest this weekend, that is for sure! :-)
Blow your own trumpet! If you don't, who will for you! Congrats on your award!!!!! Are you going to be given anything useful, such as money to spend in your classroom or will it be the perfunctionary luncheon and framed certificate?
The wonderful thing about one of the associations I belong to is we actually gave money grants to science teachers, up to $1000 to buy equipment for the classrooms. That's the thing that teachers need. I don't think a lot of people realize how much money teachers spend out of their own pockets from their paltry salaries (saying this from experience)
I guess they forgot to put in our teacher training materials that all children born in this day and age are mini-Einstein's that are incredibly gifted musicians, athletes and artists all rolled into one! LOL Parents have some incredibly unrealistic expectations of their children, and then turn around blame the school system if their child isn't as bright as they think they are.
My teacher friend had her brother help grade some papers for her (she is in charge of over 200 students in middle school!) and he was an English professor from Columbia University, so he was definitely qualified to assist! He gave a child a B for a paper, and the mother who was a professor at much smaller university came in very upset. She explained that the child had used the passive voice when they needed to use the active voice. What it really boiled down to was the mother had pretty much written the paper and had her own knowledge questioned. It seems this college professor didn't really know the difference! I don't know why parents think this helps their kids!
That's one of the things that has always concerned me about the "no child left behind" ruling/law, whatever it is. You have a couple of third graders who are a year to a year and a half behind, esp in their reading and if she passes them through just barely by the skin of their teeth....them going into the fourth grade, they will be struggling to keep up w/the rest of their peers. And IMO, it hurts the child because they have to work twice, if not three times as hard, struggling just to keep up.
I know it's gotta be hard on ya hun, having to retain one of your third graders, but yet, you don't want him struggling to keep up in the fourth grade if you actually promoted him to grade four when he is struggling enough as is, kwim? You're a great teacher, it's not your fault and given what you explained, it's not the child's fault either. Poor kid, I kinda feel bad for him because it sounds like he never really had parental figures or support to motivate him and to help him, you know?
On another note, I am taking it easy this weekend! It's been a loooooong, hard, week lol! I'm just going to take it easy this weekend and plus, I won't be at the office next week as I'll be working from home on-call working nights Mon - Thur. So technically, I have MLK day off, during the day, everyone else will be in the office while I sleep in that morning lol. Yeah, I'm definitely going to be catching up on much needed rest this weekend, that is for sure! :-)
Congrats, shy!
Thank you!
YEAH!!!
Blow your own trumpet! If you don't, who will for you! Congrats on your award!!!!! Are you going to be given anything useful, such as money to spend in your classroom or will it be the perfunctionary luncheon and framed certificate?
The wonderful thing about one of the associations I belong to is we actually gave money grants to science teachers, up to $1000 to buy equipment for the classrooms. That's the thing that teachers need. I don't think a lot of people realize how much money teachers spend out of their own pockets from their paltry salaries (saying this from experience)
Thanks.
I guess they forgot to put in our teacher training materials that all children born in this day and age are mini-Einstein's that are incredibly gifted musicians, athletes and artists all rolled into one! LOL Parents have some incredibly unrealistic expectations of their children, and then turn around blame the school system if their child isn't as bright as they think they are.
My teacher friend had her brother help grade some papers for her (she is in charge of over 200 students in middle school!) and he was an English professor from Columbia University, so he was definitely qualified to assist! He gave a child a B for a paper, and the mother who was a professor at much smaller university came in very upset. She explained that the child had used the passive voice when they needed to use the active voice. What it really boiled down to was the mother had pretty much written the paper and had her own knowledge questioned. It seems this college professor didn't really know the difference! I don't know why parents think this helps their kids!
Beach