Les Miserables

I keep thinking of these blog posts to write, but I always forget to write them or run out of time to write them. I wish there were more than 24 hours in a day. 

Any ways, I saw the musical, Les Miserables this weekend  at the Skylight Theatre in Milwaukee (http://www.skylightmusictheatre.org/). It was AMAZING! I have only ever seen the movie before last weekend. As I was sitting there watching this musical, I kept thinking about the imagination that I needed to use to see the people eating, drinking, working on the gang lines, etc. I kept thinking about my students, and whether they had the ability to imagine the little details you need to in this musical. 

It's sad to say that I feel my students would not be able to do it. They lack the ability to see what is not really there. This is not surprising to me. With easy access technology and all of the technological advances we have had in recent years why should students have to challenge their brain to use their imagination. Even younger children in K4 and K5 don't play house or dress up like I did with my friends when I was younger. 

Is this lack of imagination effecting how students perform in Reading class? Is not being able to picture characters, their conflicts, and plots in stories effecting their comprehension? I wonder if this is possible to study? I guess anything is possible if you try. This would be an interesting topic to research. I wonder if there has been any research done on it.... I guess I'll start my own investigation over this Christmas break. Also is this an Urban Education problema? o Suburban too? Is this even worth looking into?

I'll be back with my findings. Have a good Christmas if I don't write before then. Lots to do before la Navidad. 

Chao

Leslie

ACCESS testing...

It's that time of year when the ACCESS testing window opens! It's just a great Christmas present to ELL teachers every where! Ok, I'm not being serious. It's away to measure growth for ELLs, but like all standardized tests is it not made for all students. I'm having trouble with my newest new comers and taking the test. They don't try, or even pay attention.

Try as I might they lack motivation and effort to learn English. They say that they want to learn, but they never try. I have tried every which way that I know to get this children motivated! I refuse to give up though. I have even asked them what they want to learn about so I can focus my English lessons around them specifically, but they say nothing interests them. It's like pulling teeth to get them to produce any kind of work in English. As soon as I ask them a question they say... "No entiendo," without even taking time to think and process what I have said and/or given to them.

I refuse to give up even though it seems like I am close to running out of options/creativity... I get a headache thinking about this. I really wish students came with a map to their brain and directions on how they work. If anyone ever finds one can they pass it along to me???

Well, I'm off to go finish this ACCESS testing...

Chao
Leslie

WKCE (Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination)

I have this great idea, let's stop teaching for an entire week and give our students an exam to test their knowledge...

The WKCE is an exam that tests the student knowledge of Reading and Math in grades 1-3 and 6-7, and tests Reading, Math, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies in grade 4 and 8. They have been using these exams to measure a school's "success" rate too. My school is at 8% proficiency (we have 8% of our students at grade level performance in the tested areas) , and we need to raise it to 13% proficiency in the next three years or we may be shut down. Or this is my understanding of it....

I have my own opinions about the validity of standardized tests like the WKCE that I will keep to myself. I see no point in writing/complaining about them. You, my readers, have your own opinions about them, and I have mine, and my blog post is not going to change your opinions.

Anyways I noticed as one of my new students from a rural part of central/eastern Mexico ( he has been here for almost a month and a half) struggling on the exam. He had no idea how to use a calculator, no idea what a mile, foot, or yard was, and he kept asking me questions that I sadly could not explain to him. I felt bad for him, and I wish I could have explained everything to him. Not that he would have understood, but it would have made it seem a little easier.

The cultural/background knowledge that is needed for these exams is ridiculous, especially for my new arrivals. I wonder what they when they write these exams? Do they think of the students in the urban parts of the state when writing this?

It will be interesting to see what happens for the rest of the week for this testing thing... I wish everyone taking the WKCE luck!

Chao,
Leslie