Reply to Ratios ratios

Forum Index » Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)

Reply to "Ratios ratios"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Two teacher household here. We've talked about the benefits of transferring to a Title I school which are mainly class size and support. I know I personally feel like my abilities to do what I need to do are just spread way to thin. For example, just consider the DRA assessment. I am responsible for making sure that 56 students are assessed in the spring (I have two classes of 29 and 27 in each). A class of 20 would free up a lot of time. It would be one or two less reading groups to meet with, allowing me to meet with the groups I have more often. [/quote]

At your current school, how often do you have to figure out how to reach a kid who just arrived in the USA and has never attended school in his/her home country?  Have you had students who are under 10 years old who can't get their homework done because they had to 'babysit' their younger siblings (including preparing dinner and changing diapers) while their parents go to work?  Do you have students who need the school to provide them with food to take home because they have no food at home?  Do you have to do VGLA binders?  Look for interpreters for your parent-teacher conferences?  The grass isn't greener in a Title I school.[/quote]

9:54 here. The answer is no, I don't have to deal with those issues in a large capacity. You need to chill out a bit. You're reading more into what I wrote. I didn't say Title I was better. I focused on one aspect and that was class size and trying to meet the needs of the students (whatever they may be), with a class of 20 vs 29.[/quote]

You need to understand that the class sizes are smaller because the kids are needier.  You aren't comparing 2 equal groups in terms of what you need to do as a teacher to help the students to be successful or to even meet the minimum benchmarks.[/quote]

I do understand that.  :roll:  Obviously the kids are needier. I'm not comparing academic or economic needs. Just because the majority of my students bring in background knowledge and have home support doesn't mean I can leave them to their own devices. They are still children in a classroom who need remediation and enrichment. You need to understand that I am still expected to show at least a year's growth for each student. I am still expected to remediate and enrich for each of the 29 that I have. I am supposed to meet with those below grade level almost daily and "double dip" their guided reading groups in addition to meeting with the others in their guided reading or literature circle groups. Whether the school is a Title I school or not, there are only so many minutes in a day during which we can meet with these students and according to some of the numbers in this thread the total number of students in a class can be a difference of 15 or more. [/quote]

I couldn't agree with you more.  The ideal but not realistic number is no more than 15 in these lower elem classes to see real progress class wide.  However, with these large class sizes, you just have to do the best you can.  As a teacher, you find yourself focusing on those needier kids and meanwhile, the more advanced children are left to also help the needier ones as well if they are mature enough.  So there isn't as much learning for the advanced lower elem kids as the teacher might like but it is what it is.  This is why you will hear parents and teachers say that everyone will eventually even out.  I see it from both sides.  I even understand when I have some parents opt for private within the first week of school.  They first  ask me how I will manage with 28 kids of various levels, and I tell them I will do my best and use my training.  Plus, there is little parent involvement, ESP by 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and so on.  Sign up sheets are up starting from Orientation.  Wouldn't you know that out of 28 parents, I get one signature.  I have not lost hope.  I know of other teachers in public and private that have awesome parent involvement in the classroom from guest speakers, projects, parties, etc.  I understand that we are all working full time, but you would think that in a class of 28 with no aide that parents would rally to help.  I find it ironic how quickly they rally when they are not seeing the results they want.   In the end, it has to be a team effort.  What you do is what you get.  Teachers are not magicians or miracle workers.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics