I've been thinking about J's IRI test scores this evening. Why do the scores only go up to 3? It's because the state doesn't care if a kid is doing well, they only care if they're not.
I have searched in vain for any sort of program, support group, or even a teacher resource for children who are above grade level. The school system (and the government) is so worried about leaving a child behind that they don't even pay attention to the kids who are ahead!
It's as if they think that a smart child can figure things out for themselves. Sure, a gifted kindergartner can read, so he ought to know how to walk down to the library by himself and choose a more challenging book that his teacher has the other kids reading?? Not likely!
I can't remember where I read this, but it really stuck with me. Maybe it was a book, maybe a web site. The government spends millions of dollars to make sure a child of below-average intelligence gets all the help he needs to become a minimum-wage worker. They start these programs at the preschool level. But where are the programs for the children who will one day cure cancer? The kids who will become physicists and physicians and engineers and who knows what else? Those programs don't start until 2nd or 3rd grade, and with the economic downturn, many programs are being cut altogether.
Excellence in early childhood is not rewarded.
This is a confusing topic, because I don't really want the government's fingers in everything. I understand that some children who don't get help with reading will end up illiterate and on welfare instead of pulling in a steady minimum wage. And I know all too well that everybody feels passionate about the issues that they face personally, and not so much about others. This is an issue that perhaps few people are passionate about.
It just seems so screwed up, ya know?
Monday, September 28, 2009
IRI Testing
I got a note from J's kindergarten teacher. The kids were all given the Idaho Reading Initiative test last week. They evidently pulled each child out into the hall and asked them to identify letters and letter sounds. The letter sounds weren't graded and reported, but they will be when the children are re-tested in the Spring.
Proficiency levels were reported as 1 (below grade level), 2 (slightly below grade level), and 3 (grade level for kindergarten in the Fall.) To receive a 3, the children had to name 11 letters in one minute's time.
J named 58 letters in one minute, as well as 33 letter sounds (the tester obviously repeated letters to fill the one minute.)
Too bad the proficiency levels only go up to 3!
The teacher wrote a little note next to his results, "I will be challenging him."
Proficiency levels were reported as 1 (below grade level), 2 (slightly below grade level), and 3 (grade level for kindergarten in the Fall.) To receive a 3, the children had to name 11 letters in one minute's time.
J named 58 letters in one minute, as well as 33 letter sounds (the tester obviously repeated letters to fill the one minute.)
Too bad the proficiency levels only go up to 3!
The teacher wrote a little note next to his results, "I will be challenging him."
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Back-To-School Night
I had the chance to speak with J's kindergarten teacher after her Back-To-School Night presentation. I wanted to discuss his reading, mostly to let her know what he's capable of.
I told her that J is reading the Magic Tree House series, but she'd never heard of them. When I explained that they're short chapter books, with about 10 chapters each, and that he reads through one book in about an hour, her eyebrows went up a little and her mouth became an "o." She said, "We'll have to do something about that."
At first I thought it odd that she'd never heard of those books, but as I thought about the rest of her presentation and that she'd asked for donations for an ABC rug to help the kids learn their letters, I realized that most kids she teaches aren't ready for these books. So I looked up the books on Scholastic.com and discovered that they rate the books on grade levels. Magic Treehouse books are rated between grade 2.1 and 3.5!!! I had no idea! It's no wonder a kindergarten teacher has never heard of them!
I told her that J is reading the Magic Tree House series, but she'd never heard of them. When I explained that they're short chapter books, with about 10 chapters each, and that he reads through one book in about an hour, her eyebrows went up a little and her mouth became an "o." She said, "We'll have to do something about that."
At first I thought it odd that she'd never heard of those books, but as I thought about the rest of her presentation and that she'd asked for donations for an ABC rug to help the kids learn their letters, I realized that most kids she teaches aren't ready for these books. So I looked up the books on Scholastic.com and discovered that they rate the books on grade levels. Magic Treehouse books are rated between grade 2.1 and 3.5!!! I had no idea! It's no wonder a kindergarten teacher has never heard of them!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Kindergarten
J started kindergarten. We're in week 3 now, and he is having lots of fun.
The first week and a half were all about rules and how to be at school. That is definitely something that J needs to learn, so things are going well. He gets homework every Monday, and while he needs some encouragement and reminding to get it done, he's very capable of doing it. He is being challenged by all the writing he's supposed to do. He taught himself to write, and now has to learn to form the letters the correct way, always starting at the top of the letter.
The schoolwork he brings home is about what you'd expect, I guess. They have a "letter of the week," and each week they have practice sheets where they write that letter many times. They also make some sort of paper craft involving the letter. He brought home a paper with macaroni glued in the shape of an M, and a paper S decorated to be a snake. They've made little books and such, too.
But when he shows me his work, he usually says how great it will be to teach Z with. Because frankly, the stuff they're doing (except for the writing) would be perfect for Z!
I'm very happy that he's having fun, and there are no signs of boredom yet. It's fun to be with other kids his age and do art projects, and his school keeps them busy with music, engineering, computer, library, and P.E. classes.
The first week and a half were all about rules and how to be at school. That is definitely something that J needs to learn, so things are going well. He gets homework every Monday, and while he needs some encouragement and reminding to get it done, he's very capable of doing it. He is being challenged by all the writing he's supposed to do. He taught himself to write, and now has to learn to form the letters the correct way, always starting at the top of the letter.
The schoolwork he brings home is about what you'd expect, I guess. They have a "letter of the week," and each week they have practice sheets where they write that letter many times. They also make some sort of paper craft involving the letter. He brought home a paper with macaroni glued in the shape of an M, and a paper S decorated to be a snake. They've made little books and such, too.
But when he shows me his work, he usually says how great it will be to teach Z with. Because frankly, the stuff they're doing (except for the writing) would be perfect for Z!
I'm very happy that he's having fun, and there are no signs of boredom yet. It's fun to be with other kids his age and do art projects, and his school keeps them busy with music, engineering, computer, library, and P.E. classes.
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