After every CBA, we have a special Data Meeting to go over the results, compare our results to the district average and the schools around us, and plan for remediation.
I thought today's Data Meeting went well. My school is above the District's average (and above all the closest schools except one). Ok, we may only be ahead by 5% or so, but as long as we're above the district average, we're doing ok. Of course we strive for higher, but I digress.
During today's Data Meeting, I had an epiphany! At the end of the meeting, the visiting Math Specialist offered to come back and work with a group of students who are struggling in Math. I must have looked flabbergasted! I really should filter myself when I'm surprised by something, but I blurted out, "You would do that?" She was equally surprised by my question and said, "Of course, why not?" I wisely chose not to answer that aloud and thanked her.
You see, last year I was responsible for teaching 2 complete grades, first and second, all by myself, while trying to keep up with all the district and state standards for both grades. I had students ranging in mental age from 3 to 10 in one room. I begged for help, all year, asked all kinds of people for help, worked myself to the bone, and was basically told (for the most part), sorry that's just the way it is here when you have to teach a combo class. You're on your own.
And now this nice lady was offering to help my students in a year in which I'm only teaching one grade (and really only a 1/2 of a grade at that!). I didn't get it!
That is, until my friends reminded me that I'm not a primary combo teacher anymore! This year I'm a STAAR! Seriously! This year I'm teaching a state testing grade for the first time. There is help available if we need it.
Wow! What a difference! I like teaching 3rd grade! :)
Seriously though, no matter what I teach, I will always work hard to help my students succeed, but it is a nice feeling to have more support to do it!
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