A Phenomenal Reflection: “They’re Getting There”
As I sit and reflect, I thought about how They’re Getting There.
Entering a new week, I wanted to implore the seriousness of remaining Pre-S.T.A.A.R. time to my students. So, I made the week’s theme: “No More Excuses.”
Kids–and Adults–make excuses as to why they aren’t performing. I wanted my scholars to stop making them and get focused on excelling every day.
The instructional day started with a review for the upcoming District Math Assessment.
Following that review, I re-taught Poetry to the kids. Before I did a passage with them, though, I reviewed the elements of Poetry. Then I introduced the daily passage: Grocery Story Pirate. While working that passage, I used my “Lesson Within Lesson” strategy, where I pre-teach key vocabulary and concepts amid modeling how to analyze the selection.
The strategies proved effective as 77 percent of the kids passed. The exit ticket proved effective, too. 77 percent of the kids got it right. (I think I’ve found the right resource to assess kid’s learning at the end of the day.)
Tuesday, the kids had a bit of a setback–as only 38 percent of them passed the Poetry Quiz. Not the expectation.
Wednesday, the kids took their Math S.T.A.A.R. Sim. They didn’t do well. Initially, I wasn’t upset. But then I got to planning what I could do to help them meet the expectation.
Thursday, I put a lot on the kids. After the kids completed their MAP Growth: Science test, I re-taught elements of Drama. Then I worked a passage: Tom Sawyer Whitewashes A Fence (62 Percent passed).
And when they returned to classroom from recess, I gave them a Dramatic Literature Quiz. I was worried that they weren’t ready, but they were. 58 percent passed. Not the ultimate goal of 100 percent. But only two of them passed the Reading S.T.A.A.R. Sim. They’re growing.
In addition to their growth, I was encouraged that they did well on two TEKS(Concepts).
Theme(4.3): 75 Percent.
Context Clues (4.2B): 83 Percent.
They improved on the Exit Ticket (67 percent).
Reflecting, when I got the new set of kids, I worried that I couldn’t get them where they needed to be. But now, after about a month with the new group, I’m more confident that they can be Phenomenal on the S.T.A.A.R.
They’re Getting There.
Jeremiah Short, Influencer/Teacher
The Phenomenal Student 