I agree with teaching up in kindergarten. If we do not challenge students we will never know what their true abilities are. Tonya May commented in one of our meetings last year about sending students on to first grade even if they did not master kindergarten because she felt they would learn more in first grade than repeating kindergarten again. This goes along with what the article was saying.
Jeanie, I think your thoughts are right on target. Students can never reach their goals, if they are not exposed to the content of those goals. Also, thinking about grouping within our centers or classrooms, it promotes much higher levels of learning for students to be multi-ability grouped, other than at the teacher center for guided reading.
High expectations are the key to a successful classroom. I know that students will preform to the expectations set by the teacher. I do believe that students have their own potential level but that level needs to be pushed by the teacher with high expectations. Having low expectations for behavior, as well as educational ability,can greatly effect a classroom. I have fallen into that trap and work hard each day to never go back there. Our expectations for behavior and learning are set each morning by us....we are the teacher and these expectations are "read" each morning by our observant students, based on our mood, pose, and structure. High expectations make life easier!
They do make life easier. It is easy sometimes to get into a rut, and not push students or look at their background and not expect the best out of them. I commend you on falling into that trap and working your way out of it. All too often teachers fall in and stay there.
To quote Sam Walton - "High expectations are the key to everything." In the classroom a teacher must have high expecations for all students. Basically, you get what you expect holds true - most students will respond accordingly. I feel one of the reasons our school is successful is the expectations we have of ourselves as well as our students. The bar has been set high for years and students know it and respond accordingly.
The bar is set very high here at UTE. Its one of the things that attracted me to this school. We must not rest on our laurels, though. It is often exhausting to keep moving that bar, but we do it here. Sometimes, its not pretty, but it always has great results. I just think that when our students are adults, they will be proud to say that they were Tigers and we worked hard to be the best.
I also believe that the teacher should have high expectations for each student. Students are very quick to pick up on our expectations. If a teacher believes that the student can learn the material, the student will pick up on this and believe that they can learn this as well. If students are grouped all day in a group that they “fit in”, then they would never have the exposure to what good reading, good reasoning, etc. is like. I also believe that there is a time and place for everything. I feel like there are times when you do have to group to teach a specific skill or concept. I feel we do this during our RTI and small guided reading. I also think that we consistently look at data and observation frequently enough that our children are in these groups only as long as they need to be.
I agree with the article that all students should be exposed to "Teaching Up" by providing high quality educational experiences with diverse learning styles. In addition, I agree that test scores follow a student worse than discipline referrals and that children need equal access to resources which allow them exposure to real-life experiences. I feel that at Upper Tygart Elementary, we are closing the gaps and providing educational experences and at the same time (I agree with Jackie Hargett) we are closing the gaps by targeting individual needs through our RTI and small reading and math groups with continuous monitoring and intensive tutoring. The physical education needs with the five key tips are being followed at our school, however, we have limited space, but when we move into our new school this issue will be resolved.
I believe we are a staff with high expectations for our students. If they have a low score, it is a signal for us to find a way to have that child only be better regardless of who they are. We expect alot from kindergarten students so they will be ready to be successful first graders, second graders,...... I recently had a parent say that we expected to much. I tried to explain we have goals that are expected by not just the staff put by the county and the state. We want are students to be the best and we expect the best.
Michael Jordan said," If you accept the expectations of others, especially negative ones, then you never will change the outcome." I make the choice everyday to lift my students up to the highest expectations, they have enough in this world beating them down. I agree with Mrs. Hargett, sometimes ability levels are most beneficial, mixed levels work best in our independent centers.
I also agree with 'teaching up' and multi-level grouping of students. Before Christmas, when we did our small group activities I did not have any type of system in place for who went to what table. I just called names and they went. After Christmas, I sat down and made groups starting with my highest and then my lowest, going back and forth until everyone was in a group. I can tell a huge difference in the work of some of my students now. I believe when they see others performing tasks they cannot do well, it gives them a desire to work harder so they can do them just as well. I also agree that having high expectations is key to success. When my students know that I want them to learn our new information, they want to learn it so I will be proud of them.
I agree with teaching up and multi-level grouping of students. When students are mixed with different abilities in groups, they learn from each other. Those students who tend not to try will because they want to do as well as the other students in their group. Students will perform to what the teacher expects. I think it is important to set the bar high and let the studetns know what you expect so they can get there.
I agree that we need to have high expectations of our students. If we don't expect them to learn at a high level they may not try as hard as they can. I think mixing the ability levels allows students the opportunity to learn from each other and perform appropriately. This is Jason because I do not remember my login for this Blog.
I agree with teaching up in kindergarten. If we do not challenge students we will never know what their true abilities are. Tonya May commented in one of our meetings last year about sending students on to first grade even if they did not master kindergarten because she felt they would learn more in first grade than repeating kindergarten again. This goes along with what the article was saying.
ReplyDeleteJeanie, I think your thoughts are right on target. Students can never reach their goals, if they are not exposed to the content of those goals. Also, thinking about grouping within our centers or classrooms, it promotes much higher levels of learning for students to be multi-ability grouped, other than at the teacher center for guided reading.
ReplyDeleteHigh expectations are the key to a successful classroom. I know that students will preform to the expectations set by the teacher. I do believe that students have their own potential level but that level needs to be pushed by the teacher with high expectations. Having low expectations for behavior, as well as educational ability,can greatly effect a classroom. I have fallen into that trap and work hard each day to never go back there. Our expectations for behavior and learning are set each morning by us....we are the teacher and these expectations are "read" each morning by our observant students, based on our mood, pose, and structure. High expectations make life easier!
ReplyDeleteThey do make life easier. It is easy sometimes to get into a rut, and not push students or look at their background and not expect the best out of them. I commend you on falling into that trap and working your way out of it. All too often teachers fall in and stay there.
DeleteTo quote Sam Walton - "High expectations are the key to everything." In the classroom a teacher must have high expecations for all students. Basically, you get what you expect holds true - most students will respond accordingly. I feel one of the reasons our school is successful is the expectations we have of ourselves as well as our students. The bar has been set high for years and students know it and respond accordingly.
ReplyDeleteThe bar is set very high here at UTE. Its one of the things that attracted me to this school. We must not rest on our laurels, though. It is often exhausting to keep moving that bar, but we do it here. Sometimes, its not pretty, but it always has great results. I just think that when our students are adults, they will be proud to say that they were Tigers and we worked hard to be the best.
DeleteI also believe that the teacher should have high expectations for each student. Students are very quick to pick up on our expectations. If a teacher believes that the student can learn the material, the student will pick up on this and believe that they can learn this as well. If students are grouped all day in a group that they “fit in”, then they would never have the exposure to what good reading, good reasoning, etc. is like.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that there is a time and place for everything. I feel like there are times when you do have to group to teach a specific skill or concept. I feel we do this during our RTI and small guided reading. I also think that we consistently look at data and observation frequently enough that our children are in these groups only as long as they need to be.
I agree with the article that all students should be exposed to "Teaching Up" by providing high quality educational experiences with diverse learning styles. In addition, I agree that test scores follow a student worse than discipline referrals and that children need equal access to resources which allow them exposure to real-life experiences. I feel that at Upper Tygart Elementary, we are closing the gaps and providing educational experences and at the same time (I agree with Jackie Hargett) we are closing the gaps by targeting individual needs through our RTI and small reading and math groups with continuous monitoring and intensive tutoring. The physical education needs with the five key tips are being followed at our school, however, we have limited space, but when we move into our new school this issue will be resolved.
ReplyDeleteI believe we are a staff with high expectations for our students. If they have a low score, it is a signal for us to find a way to have that child only be better regardless of who they are. We expect alot from kindergarten students so they will be ready to be successful first graders, second graders,...... I recently had a parent say that we expected to much. I tried to explain we have goals that are expected by not just the staff put by the county and the state. We want are students to be the best and we expect the best.
ReplyDeleteMichael Jordan said," If you accept the expectations of others, especially negative ones, then you never will change the outcome." I make the choice everyday to lift my students up to the highest expectations, they have enough in this world beating them down. I agree with Mrs. Hargett, sometimes ability levels are most beneficial, mixed levels work best in our independent centers.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with 'teaching up' and multi-level grouping of students. Before Christmas, when we did our small group activities I did not have any type of system in place for who went to what table. I just called names and they went. After Christmas, I sat down and made groups starting with my highest and then my lowest, going back and forth until everyone was in a group. I can tell a huge difference in the work of some of my students now. I believe when they see others performing tasks they cannot do well, it gives them a desire to work harder so they can do them just as well. I also agree that having high expectations is key to success. When my students know that I want them to learn our new information, they want to learn it so I will be proud of them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with teaching up and multi-level grouping of students. When students are mixed with different abilities in groups, they learn from each other. Those students who tend not to try will because they want to do as well as the other students in their group. Students will perform to what the teacher expects. I think it is important to set the bar high and let the studetns know what you expect so they can get there.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we need to have high expectations of our students. If we don't expect them to learn at a high level they may not try as hard as they can. I think mixing the ability levels allows students the opportunity to learn from each other and perform appropriately.
ReplyDeleteThis is Jason because I do not remember my login for this Blog.