Every year there are a few children who don't make expected or desired progress. What do we do about that?
Last year I noticed that those were students who didn't complete as much practice as other students While most students completed most practice exercises, the students who didn't make expected progress completed less. They were students who fell around the middle band of achievement. They weren't the students on educational plans who get substantial extra help, they weren't students who had steady at-home academic support, and they weren't students who took advantage of extra help opportunities.
How can I serve these students better?
Relationship Building
These tend to be students who are more difficult to relate to for a number of reasons. Therefore one thing that I can do is make more and better time for relationship building with these students.
Re-Looking at the Math Teaching/Learning Routines
I can also re-look at the math week and math routines--how can I change the typical unit order to make more space for in-school effective practice and support for these students.
Scheduling
Make sure that the weekly/monthly unit pattern has plenty of time for these students and plenty of time for math teaching/learning. Also make sure that for the most part there is fidelity to the schedule meaning that we give each topic the time it deserves and staffing numbers/skill stays consistent.
Home-School Connections
This year, home-school connections helped some students who fell into this category do better.
A Varied, Engaging Learning Plan
For the most part, I believe this exists, but as with all things, it can be improved too.
Advocacy to Re-work Some Structures and Staffing in Place
I think we can look more closely at expected structures and staffing to also help these students more.
Identification
Using observation, assessments, and other data ways to identify who these students are earlier and put an action plan in place as soon as possible. For one student who fell into this category, we did put a place into action early this year, and met with some positive results.
I'll begin using this list now to help the few that I'd like to see make better, more positive results. With a new unit I will pilot after spring vacation, I'll use some of the strategies about to better meet those students' needs. This will be a good start. Onward.
