“The most important thing in life is learning how to fall.”
—Half Broke Horses
September 2011
29 posts
August 2011
14 posts
“And along the way, we are shown a true miracle — that even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again.”
—The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
What I've Learned
After one week with my kiddos, here is what I know:
- Fourth graders buy into my cheesy stories way more than fifth graders. Additionally, they are much more likely to shout “YESSSSS” and do a little fist pump when they get to move their clip up the behavior ladder and they actually put on their invisible detective glasses 100% of the time when going on word hunts.
- Two times more girls in my classroom than I’ve ever had equals two times the drama.
- Three of my eleven students have no concept of letter-sound correspondences. And they’re fourth graders.
- Two of my eleven students cried when I asked them to do single digit addition (again - fourth graders).
- If I somehow relate every story and word problem to roller coasters and/or Great America, IA will be the most participatory member of my class.
- The average math diagnostic score in my classroom was 16%.
- My four girls drew me a picture today in which my eyes and mouth are hearts and my T-Shirt says “Best Friend” and I am holding hands with all of them, so I guess I have four new best friends.
- Of our 15 basic sight words, my students can read an average of 8.
- It is possible for a student to fall asleep in class and start snoring in less than 5 minutes.
- Starting fresh is hard, but this I know for sure: these kiddos are capable of greatness.
“The way a school looks sends a powerful message to students. When it’s clean, and beautiful, and there’s no graffiti, well, then, students know something important is happening inside.”
—
Former Assembly Member Coto at the opening of San Antonio’s new $18 million campus
If this is true, what is the message to kids when their school is falling apart?
Today, my 4th and 5th grade students scored an average of 16% mastery on their diagnostic exam comprised of 1st and 2nd grade standards. We have some work to do, but we will get it done. I can’t wait to see how much they learn and grow this year!
Play
11 kids. 10 families met. 9 desks. 8 breakfasts served. 7 Read-Alouds. 6 class rules written. 5 criers. 4 “you’re the prettiest teacher ever” compliments. 3 bee attacks. 2 successful days. 1 happy Ms. J.
The Results
By the numbers…
- 75%: Students who improved on their state test in reading
- 75%: Students who improved on their state test in math
- 50%: Students who were proficient in one subject
- 1: Student who scored perfect in math. That’s right. 600.
I am the proudest mother hen of them all.
