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?
