Thank you to Betsy who sent me this comment and link:
“I read this article today and thought of you.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/20/opinion/occupy-the-classroom.html?_r=3
behind the numbers
The administrator spent 20 minutes going over the data she’s been collecting for the past 4 years about our students in Head Start. Her Power Point showed a remarkable increase in social skills, oral language, understanding about letters and writing. The rise of skills has coincided with new curriculum instruction focused on story modeling and writing. But she asked us to reflect on what else is behind those great percentages.
Here is my reflection sheet about all that is behind those numbers:
yes, the curriculum has supported focused instruction by teachers taking an active role in modeling skills to students
the work is meaningful and meaning-making
we are becoming more successful at having targets – even for our youngest students
our staff is well educated and trained – paraprofessionals and teachers have been receiving the same training in curriculum
there has been a renewed focus on developing relationships with students and community in the classroom
our professional learning community meets regularly and we’ve had outside expertise work with us
I love that I can say the work we are doing really will help our students be the learners they need to be as they move on in school – that the data reflects the same is icing on the cake. The superintendent of our district has a driving question: Would you be doing the same thing regardless of whether you were mandated to – because it is best for the kids? YES!
Books for Saturday’s Child #5: The Color Box
Have you met Alexander? 
He’s the main character in the book I review here.
One Sunflower 