Failure 2010

This year, I definitely can look back and see some of my failures and weaknesses.  I think my biggest failure was to those students I knew would not pass the state test.  Most of them were my IEP students.  Yes I worked with them, answered questions in class, sent work to their learning strategies classes, and did a lot more.  What I didn’t do was find time outside of class to work with these students.  Also I called their parents around the end of each nine weeks and at the beginning of the year.  In doing all this, I believe I failed.  These students are embarrassed many times to be IEP students.  Therefore they won’t come to detention or seek help.  I should have called home and set times up, or pulled them from an elective, to go over the material again with them one on one.  This extra attention would have been priceless.  I should have also called home much more.  Many IEP students have parents that care.  The parents would have appreciated and really helped make these extra times for tutoring happen.  Special Education students need even more attention.  This attention can’t always happen in class, BUT it needs to be forced outside of class.  Learning strategies are great for them, but that teacher many times either isn’t qualified or doesn’t really teach.  The students need the actual teacher to break the material down for them even more, show them steps on the calculator, teach them key words, since many of them can hardly read, and to just show a real interest in their success and in their lives.  This coming year, I need to make sure that I get my IEP folder immediately, and instantly set up parent conferences with parents to make sure that we are all on the same page.  This will be great in helping the parents aid their child, and help me in helping their child pass the state exam at the end of the school year.  Quite a few of my special population students did pass the state test, but it was still less than half of them.  This really bothers me.  I know I could have done more for these students.  They deserved more.  This year, it is my mission, to see that the majority of IEP students pass the state test.  It is essential for their morale, academic future, and life.  I am their teacher and so I am responsible to see them succeed.  Failure should not be an option I, as their teacher, bring to the classroom.

Comments

[Bill]

That is such a good point Josh!  I think as a first year teacher my mail goal is simple -- survival.  In reality though as educators we need fight for the kids attention and those with learning abilities need extra attention.  It is easy to kind of write them off but when it comes time to reflect on all that was your first year it's kind of convicting to think about changes that should have been made.  Enjoy your much needed break!

[crbreaux]

I had the same failure this year. I actually never even saw any IEP folders at all. (but that's because my inclusion teacher wouldn't let me see them) I agree that IEP students get left behind because they will not seek help. I, too, need to do a much better job in seeking those students out and giving them individual help. They deserve just as much as regular ed students, and I intend to give them more time and effort next year. 

[elisepatterson]

I'll second Christine on this one (although I did get to see my kids' IEPs...although not until September). I think one reason I was bad about seeking out my sped students to make sure they were getting it is that I was just so overwhelmed; it was easier to focus on the kids who could understand a given topic quicker or with less effort from me. I was ashamed by my inadequacy at addressing my IEP kids' learning challenges and breaking down the English II framework in a way that made it more accessible. I'm hoping that with a year under my belt I'll be more effective at working with those students to pass the test. But it will require a conscious effort not to downshift into triage mode, where I'm focused on those kids who are right on the edge of passing, to the detriment of other students who may be farther off. 

[Matthew Gioia]

Mr. Smith:  I'm glad I read this post - I find it difficult to learn from the mistakes of others, but I will do my best to give the extra time and attention to the students who really need it.  On another note, it has been extremely instructive to watch you run the detention room this summer.  You are a detention master I myself am afraid to open my mouth or move a muscle during detention when you are looking over the room with your trademark raised eyebrows.  Thanks for your help - have a great month off. -mg