I caught a glimpse of myself in my middle child today. Boy was he ticked! I have to go back a couple weeks and fill in the pieces and then I think you will understand where we are.
The kids have AR reading at school. Overall, I think the program is fine. My boys have pretty lofty 9 week point goals and thankfully, they adore reading so it is not a problem to consume the higher point value books. You will recall that Maclain had that extra year of Pre-K so he entered Kindergarten as an independent reader. Well, our school/state has a "Sunshine Book" program. Basically, there are new selections chosen each year. The Sunshine Book program begins in the third grade. Maclain is reading and testing at a 6th grade level. A couple weeks ago at his library time, he chose a book called Chasing The Falconers.
The kids have AR reading at school. Overall, I think the program is fine. My boys have pretty lofty 9 week point goals and thankfully, they adore reading so it is not a problem to consume the higher point value books. You will recall that Maclain had that extra year of Pre-K so he entered Kindergarten as an independent reader. Well, our school/state has a "Sunshine Book" program. Basically, there are new selections chosen each year. The Sunshine Book program begins in the third grade. Maclain is reading and testing at a 6th grade level. A couple weeks ago at his library time, he chose a book called Chasing The Falconers.
He was very excited because he had seen Connor read the series. Well . . . (Mrs King will get a kick out of this one) when he went to check it you could have felt the earth shake. He was told he could not read that book, that it was only for those in the Sunshine Reader Program. He was embarrassed, sadly. Don't misunderstand. We have a fabulous media specialist and a wonderful library system. When he came home and told me, I at first did not think too much of it . . . I mean . . how many other books are there he could choose, right? But then I got to thinking about it. I explained to him that the Sunshine Reader program only has so many books each year and they have to keep those available to the 3-5 graders . . . Easy enough. We just made a fun little trip to our public library and checked it out ourselves. No big deal . . . one would think. He took it to school today and was informed (again) that he was NOT allowed to read that book. When he got in the car he was tearfully trying to explain the situation to me and then he exploded.
That is the part of me I saw in him. To feel strongly about something and then have others holding you back. I can feel it in my core. Well, certainly his teacher did not understand it was not one of the school library books . . . that we had checked it out on our own as to not mess up their little system. So I called her. I calmly explained to her that I had an upset son in the car and needed some clarification as to why he could not read that book. She went on to explain it was for 3-5th graders. Fine. We are not using their book . . . got one of our own. "Well, the other children will see him reading it" and then if she makes an exception for him . . blah blah blah. She said she is just trying to follow the rules and to please understand her position. I told her I understand rules and to please understand my position and our plan of action: Maclain WOULD be completing the book at home, he will not test on it for his point goal (stupid anyway) but that we would be rewarding him at home for finishing it and for choosing a challenging level book that is at the top of his range. I told her I would hate for Maclain to finish out the year with a negative feeling about reading for a kid who challenges himself and has consumed more books than I ever have.
So. Mrs Kubo. You're a 3rd grade teacher. Give me your thoughts. Did I handle it correctly?
Mrs King. You are #1 in my book when it comes to book selections and library stuff. Give me your thoughts.
Last note. Their school has been one of the top Elem. schools in the state. Their teachers and admin. are under a tremendous amount of pressure. His teacher is dear, professional, tenured, and as is typical, has a couple firecrackers in her class that exhaust her. She adores Maclain. Not sure how she feels about his Mom at this point, however.
That is the part of me I saw in him. To feel strongly about something and then have others holding you back. I can feel it in my core. Well, certainly his teacher did not understand it was not one of the school library books . . . that we had checked it out on our own as to not mess up their little system. So I called her. I calmly explained to her that I had an upset son in the car and needed some clarification as to why he could not read that book. She went on to explain it was for 3-5th graders. Fine. We are not using their book . . . got one of our own. "Well, the other children will see him reading it" and then if she makes an exception for him . . blah blah blah. She said she is just trying to follow the rules and to please understand her position. I told her I understand rules and to please understand my position and our plan of action: Maclain WOULD be completing the book at home, he will not test on it for his point goal (stupid anyway) but that we would be rewarding him at home for finishing it and for choosing a challenging level book that is at the top of his range. I told her I would hate for Maclain to finish out the year with a negative feeling about reading for a kid who challenges himself and has consumed more books than I ever have.
So. Mrs Kubo. You're a 3rd grade teacher. Give me your thoughts. Did I handle it correctly?
Mrs King. You are #1 in my book when it comes to book selections and library stuff. Give me your thoughts.
Last note. Their school has been one of the top Elem. schools in the state. Their teachers and admin. are under a tremendous amount of pressure. His teacher is dear, professional, tenured, and as is typical, has a couple firecrackers in her class that exhaust her. She adores Maclain. Not sure how she feels about his Mom at this point, however.
3 comments:
One thing I personally dislike about AR is when a big deal is made about AR points (or the lack thereof) with kids who are avid readers... just maybe not of AR books. Last year, I would have done back flips to get my kids to read ANYTHING. This year, they all have their noses buried in books, and it doesn't matter a whole lot to me if it's an AR book. I do choose class read alouds that are AR and I ask them to take one quiz/week to please the powers that be. But I just don't make a big fuss over it.
Secondly, SSYR books.... we're struggling with that list right now deciding whether or not my upcoming 3rd grade magnet students for next year should read a book from the gr. 3-5 list over the summer.... not because of any "rules" imposed by my school, but just is it fair to expect that (they ARE going to be in magnet, after all).
As far as other kids wanting to read the book... if another child has the audacity to point out that Maclain's reading it in a "so why can't I?" attitude, my answer as the teacher would be, "Maclain's mom and dad picked that book out with him, and it's their choice what he is allowed to read." I cannot control what my students' parents let them read (though sometimes I wish I could...), and it's not the school's job to be the "reading level police" in my opinion. My only objection from what I know of the situation, would be if the book's *content* was inappropriate for someone Maclain's age. I'm not familiar with the book, it was not mentioned by the teacher from what you said, and I know your standards with your kids. I say--read on, Maclain, read on! :)
LOVE and MISS you!!
B
I will personally send Maclain a copy of any book he'd like to read (mom-approved, of course!). My kids enjoy Gorman's series like Island and Dive. Great books.
The logic behind your teacher's response to Maclain is no better than the school that removed legos from the classrooms because some of the kids could make great creative buildings and others could not. Can you imagine if every child was not allowed to succeed beyond the least capable child in the class?
Each and every child deserves to reach his or her own potential. In denying Maclain the opportunity to increase his vocabulary and reading comprehension, they are violating the IDEA - every child deserving the best education possible. No one would ever deny a child with developmental delays the chance to increase his vocabulary or comprehension.
What many people don't realize is that by squelching the enthusiasm of bright students, they are doing those children harm. The desire to learn and grow is quickly extinguished as a result of situations like the one you've experienced.
All Maclain's teacher needs to say is "that's Maclains book." "What are you reading today?" End of story. Divert the focus from Maclain to that child's strength. The worst case scenario (assuming age appropriateness of the book) is that a child is exposed to a book beyond his or her reading ability. They lose interest quickly - no need for the book police. The other outcome could be that a child is so intrigued by this book they chose that they reach up and grab those new words and think deeply about a complicated plot.
I have a kindergarten student that reads and comprehends on a 2nd/3rd grade level. He is a voracious, motivated, passionate reader. Yesterday in library he couldn't choose between 2 books (kindergarten only checks out one at a time) so I let him take both. Yes - a couple of kids asked why he got two. I just said "to show them to his parents" (they read with him every night). No one thought any more about it and his academic needs were met for that moment. Some might take issue with that but I really try to treat each student as an individual.
Okay - last thought. Studies show that the opportunity for self-selection (kids choosing their own books) greatly increases the odds that they will become lifelong readers (isn't that the whole point?).
Kim - you totally did the right thing. Continue sticking up for those awesome kids of yours! Please keep me posted. Hugs all 'round. We miss you guys.
Julie
As a side note, I asked my media specialist about the book (and read the cover of it) today. She was pretty aghast at the situation. Again, "why in the world would you hold a child BACK from reading??" She said she HAS been telling 2nd graders "no" to SSYR this month for the reason you wondered--that they be available for 3-5 graders here at the end. However, she saw NO problem with your alternative of checking it out from the public library. Then again, I also work at a school that TOTALLY advocates teaching each child at his or her own level. Hence, the 2nd graders who join my 3rd graders in our 4th grade level math class. :)
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