With this being my sixth year teaching sixth grade, I am growing more and more concerned with the lack of parental support that my students receive. The majority of my students read well-below grade level and it seems like no matter how I say it, spell it, or write it the ownership for that accountability is lacking amongst the children and parents I service. I have too many students who need glasses and their parents repeatedly tell me they can't afford them, but the same students come to class regularly with the latest shoes, mostly as expensive as Jordans. I can't seem to find a way to convey to my students and parents the importance of their student's reading abilities. I have tried letters, phone calls, report card comments, parent/teacher conferences, and after-school assistance. But it seems as if, my last words of assistance are only as good as the completion of the student's next assignment. Once the school day is complete and the students leave my presence, the daily lesson seems to float to the sky. Many times, not returning until the bell rings the following morning, or when I prompt my students about the previous skill taught.
How can I be more effective at conveying to my students and parents the importance of reading fluency, reading comprehension and mastery of reading abilities?
61 comments:
Dani,
I know exactly what you mean. We deal with the same issues. Our children do not get to be children any more. They live in an adult world and many raise themselves. Since children do not go out and play these days, they are lacking the social skills they need. This seems to drive them to seek happiness in video games, computers, and other forms of entertainment. They rarely do things that require them to think or to enjoy learning. It is very sad and we educators have an important job to teach them the value of learning and reading. Don't give up. You can make a difference. Teach a child to love reading and you have changed a life forever.
Rosemary
Rosemary,
I totally agree with you that the value of videogames has taken precidence over the importance of learning. Not only is the lack of social skills a factor for children not playing outside, also videogames and staying glued to the television is causing childhood obesity to rise.
Danielle, I symphasize wth you, as I am an educator too. However, you must rememeber that our job is not to change the world, but to make a difference in those who are receptive to our help. The world that we live and teach in prioritize everything but education, so it is not surprising in the areas where socio-economics, lack of education and lack of resources can produce such an overwhelming amount of childen whose lives are not condusive to higher education. Yet, you can be the differnece in a few of their lives by leading by example. Do not let the frustration you endure compromise your work ethic and who you are. One day you will see the fruits of your labor. Don Cheadle once said, "medocrity is rampamt, but excellence is rare", shine your excellence for all to see.
R. Simley
Hi Dani,
Anyone teaching children is able to identify with your concerns. There is no ready answer, and the many responses you have received demonstrate the depth of the problem. We do the best we can. We model, we try to find adults our students are able to count on, and we continue to look for a single spark that will hook a student for life. It is discouraging at times, and I think it also explains the 50% turnover rate for new teachers within the first five years of teaching. While teachers wear many hats (mom, nurse, social worker, etc)we cannot change society. We can only work with what we have in the time we are given. Keep trying. L.
"Children have never been very good at listenening to elders, but they have never failed to imitate them." - James Baldwin
If there were a simple solution to this issue, no one ever said it would be easy. Part of my role as a parent liaison is to provide training to parents on how they can assist their children with homework and academic achievement; yet I find that to be a daunting task because of the perception that schools should deal with school issues and home deal with home. Nonetheless, the fact that both home and school are dealing with the same chilren has totally been dismissed. In the grand scheme of things parents are seeing homework as a life or death issue and most parents are just trying to survive. We have too many examples of illiterate, high school drop-out who have been highlighted for their success in spite of their lack of education. If parents feel they are making it, then they feel their children will be alright. Parents need a wake up call to just how destitute the path they are paving for their children really is.
I meant to say : In the grand scheme of things parents are NOT seeing homework as a life or death issue, meaning that they do not see how homework or academics determines the success or the lack thereof in their child's life.
You are certainly not alone in this effort!
Hi danigirl,
Try to speak with the social worker about your students that need glasses. If parents cannot afford them,she can refer them to an agency or look for donations. If parents have the money and do not want to take care of their children's needs that is negligence and is a kind of child's abuse. I think that she can help you. For the ones reading under level,if you send me your email I can send you some material to test them at what level they are and to provide them activities at their level. It is so sad that students go all the way to sixth grade without completing their reading skills. It is not your fault that they are not reading at their level, you just try to touch a life at a time. Whatever they improve is a gain. I think that for you to be concerned is because you care about your students and that is very important.Keep on the good work!
Hi Danielle,
That is an issue of great concern for many educators. What kind of support are you receiving form administration. Local ministries may be a source of some support. I have received some suppot form local ministries in my area. They have provided some assistance with material needs of students and with cordinating parental support groups. There has also been some in school tutoring provided by these groups.
You, however, are a wonderful asset to these students. Keep up the good work.
Marilyn
Dani,
I agree ... many parents have stopped being the parent and have become their child's friend. Also many parents use the excuse that they were not good students so that's why their children are not good students. Why can't they see that we need to break the cycle? It really frustrates me that we are promoting students who are not prepared for ANYTHING!!!!!
Reluctantly, I agree with rsimley, our role is to make a difference one child at a time, although our nature is to try and change the world.
I understand what how you feel. Unfortunatly, many people that don't have money or live in poverty look at money as a way to provide entertainment, thus buying Air Jordans before buying necessities for school. These parents often don't see the value of education because they were not successful in school themselves. One way you could help these parents is checking to see what types of services your school or school district might have to purchase glasses for your students. Have your nurse do a vision test and see if DSS or other govenment agencies can help. Unfortunatly this falls on you because all to often parents forget that they are just that - parents.
Rsimley,
It seems more realistic to only concern myself with a few instead of the entire class. However, too many of my students are so needy. It's too hard to pick and choose who I should focus on and who I shouldn't.
lklaeren,
You are absolutely right about teachers having to wear several different hats. The teacher retention rate is also a problem as teachers hit the 3-5 year mark. You'd think that districts would do more to ensure teachers stayed longer. It's very valuable to have seasoned teachers and not heavy turn overs with young inexperienced teachers entering the profession with little coaching.
cbrown,
I know in my district the parent liason position is new this year. However, I think its a powerful position and in years it will close the gap between school and parent communication.
Keep me posted on your ideas to better involve parents!
carmboricua,
Our school doesn't have an identified social work. However, we have a team of people that include the guidance counselor, parent liason, and pupil personnel worker. This is a new team with new positions for this school year. They have been focusing a great deal on absenteeism. I will ask them for resources about glasses.
sharcorn,
You are absolutely right when you mention how too many parents are trying to be their children's friend. I think that comes with the age. Too many parents are very young nowadays and don't understand the necessity of structure, rewards and consequences.
Children in this day and time no longer have the luxury of just being children. Some are expected to take over the household while parents are away from the home. The idea of parents providing them with the basic necessities no longer has priority in their life. Some parents feel the more luxury items they provide helps them alleviate the guilt of not providing clothing and food. It's a sad situation when children go to school hungry and when some come to school just so they can eat at least two meals a day. In order to help the children you have to help the parents understand that without a basic education the drop out rate escalates and unfortunately, parents do not see the need for education because some of them do not have an education themself. I believe you are doing all that is in your power to change this situation. I believe you should keep on doing what you are doing and you will succeed in changing lives even if it is only one life the rewards for both you and the child will be fulfilling.
Dani,
Often when students reach the sixth grade, the messages you might send to the parents via the students do not get delivered because students might not want the parents to get involved with their teacher. Perhaps the solution to your problem is one that rests with the principal and the PTA appealing to the parents to check in with the teachers about work assignments, etc.
I don't know how many of your parents have computers at home, but it is easy to establish an online communication with parents by posting homework assignments online, sharing your email address and classroom phone number with the parents, and communicating to them that you are approachable and want the parents to be involved in the academic success of their children.
I took a course through PBS TeacherLine that may give you some good ideas. It was entitled "Connecting family, community, and schools," and it was excellent in suggesting ways to involve parents in their children's educational experience. Go to http://www.pbs.org/teacherline and click on Courses.
Best of luck!
Dani,
I know how frustrating it can be when you do everything you know to do and it seems to have no effect. This will sound corny, but I firmly believe that if you let the students know that you love and care about them, many of them will strive to do their best for you. I also don't think this is a new problem -- it was just more acceptable in the past to have students who were not successful in school because there were always jobs available for those who preferred manual labor. I once purged student records as a summer job and it was amazing to see the number of students who repeated grades two and three times. Judging by the teacher notes on these records (and teachers could say whatever they wanted in the 30's and 40's and not worry about being sued), they were just as frustrated as we can get now.
If parents don't respond after phone calls or emails, then sometimes you have to write them out of the equation and have whatever impact you can at school. Trust me -- you do have an impact.
Dani:
This seems to be a prevalent problem in many schools: urban, suburban and rural. I would suggest establishing a collaborative relationship with your school librarian. (Hopefully you have one! You will have help in matching students to books they can read and enjoy. Many times, the "switch" that clicks on and can make a difference in whether or not a child begins to pay attention to their academic skills at upper levels such as yours (especially with little parent involvement!) is a simple thing like reading a book that they enjoy and CAN read, and learning that there are many more like it out there, just waiting for them. Don't look for miracles, just recognize the many small steps these children in progress. Each one, in itself, is its own small miracle.
Dani,
I've read that if students are reading something they are passionate about, that they will challenge themselves and struggle through even if the material is beyond their reading level. Maybe the best we can hope for from parents is that they might be willing to return a "questionnaire" with two questions. Perhaps something like... What topics fascinate your child the most? and what topics would you enjoy reading about with your child? If only we could discover what a child is passionate about, we might be able to find some motivation for them to want to read. If it's something they WANT, wouldn't they bug their parents about it, so we wouldn't have to? Just a thought...
Dani,
I experience the same problems in an elementary school in New Jersey.
I understand your concern and the issues you have with parental support. We struggle with that in our district all the time. The only thing we have done that has made a difference seems to be offering after school tutoring classes, but ---- that only works if they stay are participate in it. Keep working on it and I wish you luck!
Do you have social workers in the school or system who can advocate? What about finding some source of $ and notifying parents that this is available for glassess or school supplies?
How about parental pressure from the few that do the right thing?
It is frustrating, I know from experience, when it seems that you're the only one who cares.
Good luck.
I can remember having similar concerns back in the early 70's when I started out teaching. I know I saw similar problems back then and all through my years as a public school teacher and librarian. All you can do is try your best to help students and parents. I would be inclined to go an extra mile toward helping kids get necessities such a glasses even if it appears their parents are making poor spending choices. One thing that helped me understand what enters into what seems to be flawed thinking about how to manage money is reading Ruby Payne or attending workshops that offer her insights. Here is a site that you might want to visit: http://www.lecturemanagement.com/
speakers/ruby-payne.htm
Socrates is quoted as saying:::
"The young people of today love luxury. They have bad manners, they scoff at authority and lack respect for their elders. Children nowadays are really tyrants, they no longer stand up when their elders come into the room where they are sitting, they contradict their parents, chat together in the presence of adults, eat gluttonously and tyrannise their teachers.
"I am very worried about the younger generation. The youth of today is ill-mannered, ill-bred, and shows little respect for their elders. I fear to trust them with the future."
"The youth of today is rude, obnoxious, rebellious, lazy and have no respect for their elders."
Socrates 400 BC
I think we are seeing the same children, just in different light. I am from a culture where girls graduating HS is not highly valued. College, forget it, that is only for boys. My parents could not help me with my homework, since my dad only had an 8th grade education, and my mother worked nights. I was also responsible to make sure my younger brothers did their homework correctly PLUS cooking dinner and cleaning up and helping with my father's construction business. My teachers constantly admonished me for turning in late work, or shoddy work that was not my best.
It was easier to play instead of studying, since I seemed to get the same grade either way.
But I now have my MA:Education with Library Endorsement. THE ONLY one in my family who has a MA. And I am counting out to 4th cousins. My culture? Arkansas hill. The "house" my father was born in STILLS only has packed dirt floor and a water pump outside--with a lady in her 80s living there.
Teachers make a difference. Touch a child's life, you don't know where it will lead. Or what dreams may come from it, even if it is hidden below layers of outward indifference.
Get the social services involved for eyeware, clothing, etc. BUT know, my parents would not have accepted it, since it would have been a "pride thing". You can only do as much as you can.
Even parents that seem to be middle or upper class are struggling to try to balance everything life demands of them.
Teachers: make homework relevant. Not just busy work. Include the reason WHY students need to learn a skill. (I still don't know why I needed to learn Algebra for my life now.)
Teach to the whole child, not just to the state test (which is what I am seeing more and more). Include the imagination and social interaction in lessons.
Demand a high level of learning, but know that many student swill not produce at that level.
Enjoy the child. You may be the brightest light of hope in that child's life. (ie: Thank you Mrs. Cole, Miss Hughes, Mr. Abernathy, Mr. Schell, Miss Collinger, etc etc all teacher's that I can remember helping me to become MY BEST -- even 50 years later.
Try to examine what you mean by "not reading". People read all the time. Spending time playing video games or online requires reading.
Look for alternate forms of reading besides books. Good Luck!! It's wonderful that you are dedicated and concerned.
Sometimes you can only do your best and hope that at least one child is getting something. This means you have succeeded.
Children tend to control their parents today, which means they get the things they want not what they need.
missolibrary.blogspot.com
Dani,
Just continue doing the best job that you can. While you may not think you are getting through to the students, many of them do hear what you say. You are not alone. Watch this video about another teacher who was discouraged with her inability to connect with her students.
I haven't read the other comments so maybe someone already said this, but have you read the Power of Reading by Stephen Krashen? One thing he advocates, and it is backed up with research, is silent sustained reading. In the classroom. If the students don't have a quiet place at home to read, let them read in class. I have done this and it is incredible. Also, studies have shown that if the child has begun the book in school, the chances are much higher that they will continue it at home than if they try to start reading it at home. Good luck! This really works.
Dani,
Things are much the same in my rural town of 4700. Too many of our children and parents seem to not value education. Ruby Payne's work is all too true. The poor have different values than the middle class. Education is not valued by the poor. Nevertheless, hang in there. You are making much more of an impact than you realize. Some of your students are in survival mode. Their home lives are different from ours. Gary Paulsen had a very difficult childhood. He went to the public library for refuge...mostly to stay warm. Anyway, a librarian "saved" him and got him excited about reading. Possibly reading some of Paulsen's autobiographical books to your students would light their fire. One that comes to mind is _My Life in Dog Years_, but there are others. Virtually all of Patricia Polacco's books quietly teach a lesson...especially the values you would like your students to acquire. Your school nurse, county welfare office, or PTA should be able to help the students who need glasses to get them. The next trick is getting them to wear them or not break them. You might talk to your students about your frustration and ask them for ideas on how to make learning more relevant to them. Good luck!
nokb
Dani-
You do have a big problem. Reading is more difficult than playing many video games, listening to music or even using the computer. One way to egt students to read is to get them interested in an exciting story. Read a little of it every day when time permits. Soon you'll find that some kids are hooked and want to hear the rest of the story. Once you hook kids on reading, it amazing how they'll take off.
Another suggestion is to get yopur hands on a collection of paperbacks for your classroom on their reading and interest levels. Your kids don't sound like they have access to books at home.
I don't know if the others have already suggested reading The Power of Reading by Stephen Krashan. He advocates, and backs up with research, silent sustained reading in the classroom. Let the kids just read in class. It is wonderful (and quiet!). I have also read research to the effect that children are much more likely to read a book that they have already started in class. I guess they have a chance in class to get invested in the story. Good luck!
Hey:
You might appeal to their future cost savings. The ACT and SAT both rely on the reading ability of the taker. So..if the parents want them to do well on the test that will determine how much scholarship money they will receive, they need to read--everyday. It might work. They need to be reading quality literature that causes them to think--not fluff stuff. Good luck Dianne Anderson
See my blog at http://dianne-anderson.blogspot.com/
Hi, Dani,
I see you have received some excellent suggestions on how to get parental involvement, even to the point of forcing it through DHS, but really all you can do is focus on what happens in your classroom. Everything else is beyond your control. So what you CAN do is create a print-rich environment in your room. Read aloud to students. Make reading for pleasure a priority in the classroom. Keep them informed of current events. Be positive with your students and let them know you believe in their abilities and that you see greatness in them. As a high school librarian who used to work with kindergarten, I have seen how children who began school with a love of reading had it nearly extinguished somewhere in middle school, and they come to high school thinking they hate books. Please don't let this happen to your students. Keep the flame burning. I'm sure you are a wonderful influence on your students.
Julie
Have you consider the parents' reading abilities? They may need help there also. You could work with an adult educator and possible schedule your study sessions at the same time as the adult education classes. Being proactive for both may help to ease the parents of figuring what is important. Many schools are the locations for adult education courses. Your passion is so obvious and I hope that you truly can reach those parents. Good luck!
The children do not communicate with other children. they watch TV play video games and are on the internet most of the time. It's a passive one way thing. It is important that we tech them socil and reading skills
ish_J
Dani, good luck with this. Many of us are facing the same obstacle.
Just keep doing what you are doing, being concerned, enthusiastic, empathetic, and do not allow the limitations in their lives to become excuses. What I have found is that I only see them for 9 months...but this summer I spent some time in a high school library and found that even the least motivated student could do more than when I last saw them in elementary school. Be the best that you can be and then send them on knowing that the next person will be the best they can be. It is true that it takes and entire village to raise a child. Do your part and put your energy where it counts with the kids in front of you each day.
Have you tried enlisting the help of any of the following people?
Reading specialist (academic intervention specialist)
building principal
school counselor
That might help...just an idea...they are used to dealing with parents in such matters
Wow, this is an issue that we face all across the United States. Thanks for allowing me to ponder this in Southern California on a Sunday afternoon!
It is ashame that parents see teachers as "naggers" rather than partners. They are telling you what you want to hear at the moment and helping out with that one assignment and then going back to their lazy ways. Ultimately, though, the student needs to be responsible for their own learning and sixth grade is not too young. Maybe some classroom incentives for turning in homework or successfully completing a reading assignment outside of class??
Have you read Ruby Payne's work on poverty? Sounds as if your families are spending time and money on entertainment rather than the basic needs.
A former superintendent once told me that some kids are raised "by the school" so you'll have to add "parent" to your job description and go the second mile. I open my room 45 minutes early every day so students can have homework help. I've contacted the local Lions club for glasses, and arranged for bus transportation to the Children's hospital 90 miles away for a child with health problems.
But my favorite role is that of cheerleader. I do my very best to help the kids succeed and then cheer them onward. Good luck. Kids need as many good teachers in their corner as they can get.
We have the same problem - luckily we have a charity that provides glasses but some parents won't take their kids to the Doctors that accept the vouchers. Many of our parents are trying to survive & in their world homework just isn't important. I work with my teachers (I'm a librarian) and we do all sorts of reading celebrations - it's amazing what kids will do for a brownie!
You might gain something from this article, talking about what true parent involvement should look like-- and how schools should reciprocate. I got it from Middleweb's "Of Particular Interest" newsletter.
http://www.middleweb.com/mw/aaOfPartInt.html
PARENT INVOLVEMENT MATTERS
http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org/
"The intro to this site states: 'We think it is time to acknowledge that although volunteer work makes a significant contribution to schools and kids, it is not the full picture of what it means to be an 'involved parent.' For children to reach their full potential, parents must teach respect, discipline, and a love of learning at home. They must hold their kids accountable for their behavior and academic performance and provide an atmosphere at home that is conducive to learning." In return, schools "must be advocates for meaningful family and parental involvement. They must listen to parents, help them understand their role in education, collaborate with them about their children, and teach them to become effective advocates and problem-solvers within the school community.' Sounds like an ideal partnership! Visit the site to find no-cost resources and partnership success stories submitted by readers."
---
That being said, I don't see how it's fair that your grade depends upon how many responses you receive. What kind of grading is your instructor trying to model?
I understand where you are coming from. I know you can only do so much and once they leave the classroom it is hard. But just continue staying on those parents and the students. Your hard work will pay off. Just stay positive and continue to reinforce in them how important reading is to them. You can be the difference to them. One more thing that you can do is pray because it does change things.
Just some random thoughts....
Have you worked with your school counselor to help with the parent education piece?
Does your building principal have a plan of attack for this problem, which is happening in several classrooms?
I'm trying to have you push off your responsibility as the classroom teacher, but sometimes a concentrated group effort between teacher, counselor, and principal can help.
Don't be discouraged! It is so sad the baggage that young children bring with them to school every day. We have no idea. If you have not read the book, Understanding Poverty by Ruby Payne, it is worth reading. It is a real eye-opener, and it definitely helps us understand from where many of our students come. Good luck to you!
You are not alone, I also struggle with this. Our students get FREEEE glasses (oh how I envy them when I get my annual vision checkup) and in 1 - 2 days, break or lose them. Its awful, but we have to remember, that they are children, its not their fault that their parents are not able to fulfill their needs because they are working, or because they're out on the streets, we need to focus on what we CAN do in the classroom. It seems like a never ending problem, and that they are not learning, but as time goes on, you will see a change, I am amazed by how much learning goes on, and how much our students retain, even though they live in a neighborhood where a majority are in gangs or jail or both. Key is to find what their interested in, be excited about it, and just keep trying.
You are in a very difficult situation. As others have mentioned, check out with your counselor if there are ways to get needy kids glasses.
I also want to suggest you read aloud to your students as often as you can. All kinds of books--picture books to introduce units or to explain elements of literature--setting, character etc. Starting a unit on the slavery, you might read: "Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters" by Patricia C. McKissack to introduce slavery and slave owners.
Have as many books/magazines available in your room as you can for free time. I also would suggest you look at:
"The read-aloud handbook" by Jim Trelease
and also Sharon McElmeel's website:
http://www.mcelmeel.com/curriculum/handouts.html
and also:
http://www.mcelmeel.com/curriculum/index.html
Good luck
Linda
Danielle,
I am so touched by your passion to make a difference. I think it's in our intentions that defines who we are. It sounds like your intention is to help these children and their parents. I feel we didn't all come here to have the same experience and there will be some you will not be able to help - but ultimately anything learned is stored away somewhere in our brains for later use. One day they will remember - even if you don't see it now. So often we want to see things happen now - but they are happening now whether you see it or not.
My advice to your inquiry it to know that you are making a difference because your intention is to do so. They are getting it - some more than others - but that isn't for you to decide how much and how soon. Keep doing what you are doing - love your work and do it with the passion you displayed in educator's corner. At night go home knowing you did it will love and let it go.
Jacqui
Dani,
Since this is your first blog post, I am assuming you are new to the blogosphere, but I bet your students are not. You may have just opened a world of possibilities to reach them, even when they are at home. Did you ever think that they could respond to your blog too? Welcome to the blogosphere!
:-)
Jan
I am National Board Faciitator for my district and my candidates have come up with some effective ideas for improving communication with parents. You don't say much about your students and their parents regarding their socio-econimic status, interests, and access to resources so I don't know what will help and what is not feasible, but here are some suggestions. One first grade teacher has posted loads of information online for her parents in an area where most of the parents have access to computers and the Internet. It fits with their lifestyle. She posts the spelling words, links to learning games connected with the curriculum, and more. It is making a difference. Another teacher (4th grade) has students write daily in a learning journal. Parents read the journals and then write their own responses. A high school teacher in a school with lots of immigrant and FRPL kids has a rubric for parents to fill out regarding their child's writing assignments. Students get points for returning the rubric, so they are motivated to get the parents involved. It takes some creativity, but you can draw parents in. These are just a few of the strategies these accomplished teachers use to increase communication and parent involvement.
Danielle,
I completely empathize with your plight. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be much more that you can do. You seem to be covering all of the bases pretty well and going above and beyond what a lot of educators would do. At some point the parents of the children that we service, as well as, the children themselves have to step up to the plate and accept some responsibilty for their education, the education of their children and their future. As the old proverb says, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink!" I believe that the same applies here, you can't make someone care or even learn. I know that it is discouraging in the moment, but think about all of the wonderful children who look to you as a way to succeed and as a path to help them break the cycle that we so regularly see here at school. Remember "To the world you may only be 1 person, but to 1 person you may be the world!"
Mieshay
Hi, Dani.
I find reading incentives can jump-start some gains in fluency. Not long ones that drag on and on, but perhaps 5 days of working toward a goal. Ask for families to sign off on how much time their kids have spent reading just for 4 nights, and have a special treat at the end--computer time, game time, free time, whatever. Giving them some reading time in school will help those kids whose parents never sign anything. Frequency improves fluency!
The other thing to try is blogging and wiki making with your kids. Set up a class wiki and have the kids write about the last book they read, or invite them to comment on a blog post you write. I use wwww.classblogmeister.com at my school, which is a moderated blog environment--the teacher approves everything before it goes live.
Good luck!
Dani,
I don't believe the current trend will change quickly -- or even perceptibly -- but, rather, bit-by-bit. After all, "things" didn't get this way overnight. And it isn't just in one city or one part of the country. I would venture a guess that it is pretty widespread. In my district, more than 80% of students qualify for free- and reduced-lunches. Most of these same students have newer cars than mine AND nicer clothing and cell phones. Reading scores continue to fall, because they don't need many skills to work at WalMart or one of the other large retailers, or in the many businesses associated with the oilfield.
Does it feel like a losing battle? You bet. But, as the old saying goes: "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time." Hang in there!
-pj
I think that it's very difficult to motivate students who are raised in a "whatever" culture. Perhaps if you collaborate with your school librarian to help connect these kids with books that are meaningful to them and will motivate them to move on to another book (in the series, by the same author, on the same topic.)
Talk with your students about the importance of reading and of its connection to success as an adult. Find information on how states (Indiana comes to mind) use illiteracy rates in 2nd and 3rd grade to predict the prison population 20 years down the road. This information can be powerful and might motivate some of your kids who are on the edge to work harder. Good luck.
Your students are fortunate to have a teacher who is pondering these ideas and trying to find a solution. Some of them may have had teachers who've already given up on them and their chances for success.
In my job I visit many schools within our district. The one common theme that all of the schools face, whether it is a small, rural school or a large urban school is that parent support is lacking.
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