Yesterday was the last day for students! Today I go in to finish up paper work, finish cleaning the room, have it inspected, then go to the gathering at 2:00 that I’m not that sure where it is. But then that’s it! At one point I had 27 kids, but one new one came and some left. Overall (with exceptions!) they were a great group. The leaving fifth graders were all dressed up for their promotion ceremony, and some of those stopped by as well. One of my students is leaving and going to another school next year when she’ll be in full-time GATE instead of just a once a week (at the most) pull-out. Part of that, too, is due to the stupid reading program.
They get a separate SFA report card, but they also have a report card grade. The SFA report card doesn’t go in their cumulative folder, which is a great disservice. Their entire report card grade is based on one test — the quarterly 4-Sight test. Everything else they did during the quarter is irrelevant. And — there’s something wrong with the test. For example, my GATE child above is in the 5.2 reading class and was for most of the year. But she keeps getting 4.1 on the 4-Sight test, which is why her report card grade makes her look average or below average and why mom has to fight with the office every quarter to get her kid put in the right reading class. Finally, I decided to put a note in the comments section so mom can take that to the next school and show them, and it’ll be on her permanent record. It states that the report card grade is just that one test, and that she was in 5.2 for three quarters and scored Meets and Exceeds on her class tests. A child who gets 98% on 5.2 reading tests in class isn’t at a 4.1 level. Sorry.
I did comments for a second child as well. I had her this term in reading, and she’s also in my homeroom. I taught 4.2, and it was obvious that she should have been in at least 5.1. At the end of the quarter, she tested as passing 4.1 and was put in 4.2 again for next year! I had written them a note saying that she should be in 5.2, but again, they went by the bubble test. If a kid gets 100% on tests in which they have to write the answers themselves, that’s much more valid than a bubble test!! So I made a comment on her report card too, about the grade not reflecting her actual reading level. I also told her that if she comes to me at the beginning of the school year, I’ll fight for her to help her get in an appropriate reading class!
Of course, we don’t actually know where I’ll be in the fall. The budget isn’t out yet, so technically I’m still RIF’d.
