Today, my students took their final assessment. Each of them was given an individual growth goal after the diagnostic that they took 4 weeks ago. Our big goal for the summer was to have ou students, on average, meet 100% of their growth goals.
They met 122%.
Of 22 students, 16 met their individual growth goals, some by 144% (which is why the class average was higher than 100% even though some students didn’t meet their goal). Of the 6 who didn’t meet 100% of their growth goal, 5 of them were above 70% towards meeting it. We almost got all of them there.
Four weeks ago, we had one student who, as his response to the prompt for the 5 paragraph essay, simply wrote: wtf.
Today, he wrote a 5 paragraph essay. And he made a 100 on it.
Four weeks ago, less than half the class even attempted to write a 5 paragraph essay; no one got an A.
Today, 100% of the class completed a 5 paragraph essay. There were multiple grades of 100.
I am absolutely blown away by my students’ ability to learn so much in such a short amount of time.
There are so many other ways I’ve seen them grown; ways that can’t be verbalized. I’ve seen them begin to come to class more consistently, begin to raise their hands and offer their opinions more confidently. I’ve seen them stay after class and ask for extra tutoring, seen them help each other when a classmate gets a wrong answer. They’re ridiculous.
I dare anyone to ever say to my face again that a student doesn’t care about school. I dare them to say that it’s not the teacher’s fault when a student doesn’t learn, that kids can’t behave, that students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds can’t achieve as much as their wealthier commonparts.
Come see the students at Hamilton High. You’ll eat your words.
My kids were so successful today. They worked their asses off and it showed when they took their assessments.
Tomorrow I get to tell them how amazing they did. I get to tell them that they reached their goals, that they learned how to write, that they CAN achieve when they work hard.
This experience has been incredible. I am so ready to go to my own school in the fall. I know it will only continue to get harder, but seeing today what it is that I’m working for makes it seem completely worth it.
I thank Jesus everyday for allowing me to be a part of this. This is where He has put me. I’ve never been more sure of anything.
I have 2 weeks off and then I start training to be the only 10th grade English teacher at Media Arts and Entertainment Design High School.
SO. READY.
Kari, I’m so proud of you! I hope my boys will grow up to be half the person you are! Those kids are blessed to have you!