Improving Student Performance: Reading Skills
One of my tasks as ELA specialist is to ensure that all children are recognized in terms of their educational needs in the classroom. Since there is no time or resources to invest in extra materials for the curriculum, it appears sensible to focus my efforts on an attempt towards professional development. All the teachers appear to be committed to their students' achievement and well-being. Hence, it is anticipated that an attempt towards improving the classroom experience for all students, while also improving their overall performance, will most likely meet with approval from staff members.
Since professional development should already be part of the status quo for teachers at the school, it is assumed that simply enhancing this already existing paradigm will not take as much of an investment in terms of time and resources as attempting to bring in new curricular materials.
First, I would therefore look at the professional development materials that are already in place. I will then use these as a basis for helping the two ELA teachers who do not consider reading as equal in importance to grammar and writing skills to understand the need for reading among the student population who is at below grade level and for ELL students. I would then work towards creating a training program that shows teachers the importance of assisting learners not only in teaching grammar and writing, but also how reading can enhance the skills in these competency areas.
Specifically,...
After the first session, I would discuss the experience with the program with the teachers involved, asking for their input. Finally, I would explain that students among the below grade level and ELL groups are in need of strategies to effectively enhance their learning experience. Clearly, all the teachers on the curriculum are focused on helping students gain the optimal results from their efforts. I will use this focus to help them slightly modify their strategies to include all the students, meeting all the needs represented in the classroom. Even though the majority of students (70%) are at or above grade level and benefit from the existing strategies offered in these classrooms, the remaining 30% are in most need of strategies that also help them target their educational goals. This would also be beneficial in terms of future projections for the future of education in the country. As a more diverse student body enters primary and secondary education, it will become necessary to also cater for students outside of the standard grade levels. Focusing on all the language arts inclusively is a good strategy to accomplish this.
As mentioned, all the teachers involved appear to be focused on helping their students achieve their educational goals. Attempting to identify reasons for, or at least discuss, the phenomenon of poorer performance levels shows that they wish to improve the situation. It is therefore projected that the majority of…
