Don't give up!

I was,... I mean I am,... well actually I'm supposed to be on the Weight Watchers program. I started over the winter & was doing well till I started getting pains in my leg.  First I tried my own remedies, like walking longer and harder to "work through" the pain. That ended the day I actually had to walk backwards in order to make it home painfree! Then I had a doctor's prescription for physical therapy. The therapists did their best, gave me stretches to do at home, deep massages, asked many questions to help pinpoint the source of the pain; but I usually walked away from there with the same pain I walked in with. About the same time I signed up for yoga classes to see if they would help (again my own remedy.) Then we took tests like x-rays and MRIs. What they finally discovered is that I have arthritis in my hip. I'm waiting now to see the orthopedic specialist & find out what course of action he has for me.

I'm thinking, this has been all winter (about 6 months now) and I don't SEEM to be any further along than I was in November. However, we have tried various interventions, and at least we ruled out what would NOT work. I suppose there could be some other underlying issues besides arthritis, but I'm hoping that's where the expertise of the orthopedic specialist comes in.

What this brings me around to are my students, especially my strugglers. I have students who struggle academically, physically and socially. While most have made steady progress all year, others have struggled to achieve each new level of reading, each new concept of Math, and each new depth of writing. Some have held their ground on a Reading level for so long, they wonder if they'll ever move on to the next level! We have implemented the Response to Intervention plans, and these students receive additional small group support. I have faith, as I have seen this happen in past years, that these students will also succeed. We just need to be patient. I have often seen a student who has held on at one Reading level for several months, only to find that they jump 2-4 levels at the end of the year. Something finally clicked for them.

Did I do anything wildly different? Not usually. We use best practices, assessments and interventions that are scientifically based, and teachers, interventionists and Reading specialists who develop strong encouraging relationships with these students to gently push them toward success. And they do succeed! Some of our students need the help of additional professional specialists, and as I've mentioned before, our specialists do a great job of helping our students, inspite of not being bilingual. The rest of us, teachers and parents, sometimes need to just be patient, looking toward the end goal, and continuing to be our students{ best cheerleaders! I know sometimes I forget that part in all the stress of doing, doing, doing. That's when I just stop and say to my kids, "Did you know, I really like you a lot!" (¿Sabías que yo te quiero mucho?). Sometimes they say yes, and sometime they say no. That's when I realize my approach to teaching has gone out of balance. I need to stop & say it again, (¡TQM!), followed by a big hug.

We'll get there. Your child will get there. Remember the tortoise & the hare? Slow and steady....oh and don't forget to practice those flashcards!

~Sheryl René