Comments on: The Academic Lifecycle of a “Non-Proficient” Student

By: Celina

Celina — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 22:53:59 +0000

I have spent my entire career helping students like George. With the implementation of Common Core and student assessment that holds teachers accountable for student growth and included in their professional evaluation, there will be many more kids like George. One exception, many students will not make it to 12th grade. Many more students will resemble George, but not because they struggle with reading. Many student will struggle because of fragmented implementation of the CCSS. Why? One reason is that students in K-2 will be taught comprehension strategies and skills in lieu of systematic teaching of the foundational skills. Why? Because teachers have to show student growth on the end of the year district test!

By: Vicki

Vicki — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 22:45:33 +0000

This is exactly why my daughter is now in private school. No standardized testing. Her self esteem is up, stress is down, and OCD behaviors have disappeared.

By: The Academic Lifecycle of a ‘Non-Proficient’ Student | Jolyn's Education Corner

Thu, 05 Feb 2015 04:10:21 +0000

[…] have to warn you though that her description of the Academic Lifecycle of a “Non-Proficient Student” might make you cry. Please read it […]

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 13:21:08 +0000

I hate hearing these words come out of his mouth – unfortunately I hear them far too often.
‘I’m a bad reader, I’m not smart’

Jonah bases his entire worth on Reading. It doesn’t matter if he has a 100% in Science (he did last year) and a 94% in Math.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 13:18:29 +0000

Wow. This was a really hard read Kathleen. Tears are flowing as I’m typing this.

This is my kiddo, Jonah. The sad thing is, I have harped on him and pushed him just as much as any teacher. I was made to feel my son wasn’t smart enough and living up to his potential. Why can’t it simply be that he struggles with Reading? It may take him a little longer to read the social studies chapter, a little longer to catch on? He is off the charts in Science and Math but Reading….oh Reading. I can’t tell you the number of hours he spends in RTI and after school Rockin Reader programs. The number of hours he has spent with a tutor during the summer. I know Reading is important and imperative but he shouldn’t feel like less of a student because he’s testing at a 5th grade level instead of 6th. I am so disappointed in myself as a parent that it took me this long to start standing up for him and letting him know that he is a brilliant young man and there is nothing wrong with the way he reads.

“Everybody is a genius. But, if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it’ll spend its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
-Albert Einstein

Thanks for all your work Kathleen and Conversation ED Team. I am doing what I can here in KY…

By: Bagua

Bagua — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 14:31:35 +0000

I have a daughter who is just like George. She will be in high school next year and we fear that one day she will be given a gown and a cap to wear at a graduation in which she will not receive a diploma. Sadly, it’s not because of her grades that we can almost predict this happening, but because of FCAT reading. In four years, she has only passed this test once, by one point.
We are looking into a change to private school. As we figure out how to afford private tuition, she breaks our hearts crying and begging us not to pull her out of her beloved school. Tough decision, but the other choice is to leave our daughter in the hands of an unfair school system that will disregard her hard work and learning over the results of a store-bought, one-size-fits-all, bogus test. Had we known 14 years ago, we would’ve saved for high school before starting to save for college.

By: Kathleen Jasper

Kathleen Jasper — Wed, 28 May 2014 12:34:24 +0000

Thanks for your insights, Dawn. And like you, I believe the tipping point is around the corner too. We just have to keep spreading the message. Glad you’re here.

By: Dawn Casey-Rowe

Dawn Casey-Rowe — Wed, 28 May 2014 12:31:37 +0000

This one was tough to read. I got into teaching to teach George. When I was little, I wanted to be Gabe Kotter–forming relationships leads to success, test scores don’t. We don’t have tests that hold kids back at that young age in my state, but they can keep them from graduating these days. Nothing makes me sadder than a kid who thinks he’s stupid because his genius wasn’t recognized. But don’t worry, I think the tipping point’s around the corner. The world of learning is at these kids’ fingertips, and the way we learn is changing. I believe a learning revolution’s on the horizon. Can’t come soon enough, and I’m curious to see if it gets there in time for George…maybe he’ll be part of leading the charge:)