tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post1110251481311420238..comments2023-11-10T09:23:27.270-06:00Comments on Fourth Generation Teacher: My Internal Conflict: R4P Boosts Test ScoresFourth Generation Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-55851872901460849882012-09-05T21:15:14.716-05:002012-09-05T21:15:14.716-05:00Christina, would you be willing to write something...Christina, would you be willing to write something for me to publish here? Your thoughts, your struggles, your vision as a young mom are so important...think about it!<br />Fourth Generation Teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-90088965274987816012012-09-05T21:14:15.520-05:002012-09-05T21:14:15.520-05:00Paige, I love your reflection...but I always loved...Paige, I love your reflection...but I always loved reading your thoughts...like Christina, you're deep and insightful...I am so frustrated with the current world that judges kids (and their teachers and their schools) based on test numbers. Tests are subjective, and don't really measure what we know...they measure how test-wise we are. All that ACT prep is a way to continue the inequity...rich kids' parents pay for tutors and classes and all the rest...and truly, any test prep is actually cheating!! It manipulates the test results...<br /><br />I am proud that my class contributes to stronger students, faster readers, life-long readers...and I feel like I'm cheating when I also say I contribute to higher test scores...<br /><br />You're right...for some kids that number on the ACT means everything. And truly, what does it really tell us about kids? What we're finding out is it's not as good a predictor of college grades as HIGH SCHOOL GRADES.<br /><br />I'm so cynical. I believe you and every other student goes through all this agony so College Board can continue to rake in the dough...<br /><br />I miss you...would love to have you expand your thoughts...I'd publish them here in a heartbeat!! Think about it.<br /><br />MISS you too! Fourth Generation Teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-89861164199554233392012-09-04T20:37:09.876-05:002012-09-04T20:37:09.876-05:00I didn't know you could take R4P four times! T...I didn't know you could take R4P four times! They only let me take it twice! :(<br /><br />Agreed on standardized testing -- It seems the only reason they're important is to get into college and get good scholarships. That's fine and dandy, but for those of us who are just as intelligent as the next guy, but can't seem to salvage our ACT scores for the life of us, this just sucks. I didn't have the worst ACT score, but I didn't have the best, either. So I got into OU automatically, but I didn't get any major scholarships. And this is all based on a number that doesn't test your abilities at other things you might be really talented at (like writing creatively, for example). <br /><br />I applaud you for not giving into what secondary education seems to think is important: standardized testing. I have quite a few friends at OU who went to different high schools throughout the state, and they always say that high school was a joke for them because, if they learned anything, it was all to prep for the ACT or SAT. That is just pretty sad to me. But Norman North wasn't entirely like that, so I'm glad to have had the high school education I had. I know I'm pretty blessed because of it.<br /><br />From reading your students' comments, it kind of sounds like the ACT is super important to them. That kind of saddens me because I feel like high school is about so much more than just the ACT… There are a lot of life lessons to learn in high school. There are also plenty of other academic subjects you can learn about that AREN'T tested on in the ACT. And if kids would rather take a study hall period just to keep studying for standardized tests rather than, say, a creative writing elective, that just makes me really sad. But I'm probably assuming too much here, aren't I?<br /><br />Wow. I didn't realize how passionately I felt about this subject until I started writing this comment. Sorry for the lengthiness and getting carried away--but feel free to comment back if you have any thoughts re: my thoughts. <br /><br />P.S. I soooo miss you and R4P! Wish I had a R4P class at OU…Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13528829945064428025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-3026495012713558102012-09-03T12:56:17.006-05:002012-09-03T12:56:17.006-05:00Christina, I'm proud of you and Zoey and Seyha...Christina, I'm proud of you and Zoey and Seyhan! Your road won't be easy, it sounds like. But you're doing so many things right...reading, spending time with your girls, looking for answers.<br /><br />That time with her books is good for Zoey, and she enjoys it. I love that you're continuing our love of reading and books...your girls will remember this with joy!!<br /><br />Proud of you!<br />Fourth Generation Teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-55927665583203421682012-08-27T08:18:58.416-05:002012-08-27T08:18:58.416-05:00Actually, let me rephrase this: Because I started ...Actually, let me rephrase this: Because I started my own R4P hour, Zoey can sit through it with toys and other distractions on a GOOD day. We're still trying to work on attention span and eye contact. :)Christina Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11369540735479285788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-70247625750772232472012-08-26T23:37:52.956-05:002012-08-26T23:37:52.956-05:00Because I took your R4P class 8 years ago, I am st...Because I took your R4P class 8 years ago, I am still in love with reading books. I have increased my reading speed (which has always been a lot slower than most people) and my reading comprehension because of your class! Every time I pick up a book, I think back to your class...and wish I was still in it! And I always wonder "What would Swish say about this book?" after I am done reading it. Lol. I really hope this class stays around for my kids when they reach high school. Especially my Zoey, who is more than likely autistic (she's being tested and tested and tested and....and...) and, I think, would benefit from a class like this! <br />I also believe that your class made me realize how much I LOVE to read! I hope that I can pass on my love for reading to my girls, and so far, I feel like I am succeeding. (They beg me to read story after story during night time.) I also have taken your R4P idea, and created a time in my day for my girls and I to read any book we want. Since neither can read, I spend an hour reading any book they wish to them. I think it has broadened Seyhan's imagination as well as understanding of the world around her. And for Zoey, she can now sit for the full hour and pay attention to the books since I started this! <br />Thank you for being such an inspiration and awesome teacher, Mrs. Swisher! <3 <3Christina Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11369540735479285788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-47293015492315533592012-08-26T19:52:42.590-05:002012-08-26T19:52:42.590-05:00I've taught remedial reading too...I have a re...I've taught remedial reading too...I have a reading specialist degree...I've taught elementary and secondary. This class doesn't look much different than my remedial classes...except for numbers of students...we all read every day then we wrote. We shared our books. The one thing I haven't been able to translate into this class is the individual conferences...I could do it with 15 kids in a class, and still model reading from my own books (which I think is vital! Kids need to see me reading the books they've recommended to me!). I can't do it with 33 per class. I'd love to stay in touch and visit! I spent part of the afternoon today with a friend who's teaching 3rd grade and is working to establish reading journals with her students...<br /><br />Thank you for your words...This REAL work will become much more difficult, I fear, once CCSS is reality. Personal response, personal connections, are not valued as reading strategies. Makes me sad.Fourth Generation Teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16700328444005416956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7633935880322794283.post-26296786175344482592012-08-26T17:59:06.383-05:002012-08-26T17:59:06.383-05:00For the first time in my 26-year career, I'm t...For the first time in my 26-year career, I'm teaching a remedial reading class this year for our 9th graders who didn't pass their 8th-grade reading test, and I appreciate everything you post about your R4P class; you've given me a wealth of ideas and (most importantly) ways to encourage the students to use the process for more than just a grade. Have you ever tried student blogs as a reader's journal? <br /><br />Keep up the good REAL work of education, Claudia!The Literary Adventurerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02971524028438368902noreply@blogger.com