TVAASS scores were released today. While we don't have our individual teacher report, I am pleased to announce that both of my teams made gains this year! The English II team made it into the green: as in good to go, ahead of the pack, my principal and department head will smile, we don't have to hide during the back-to-school data reveal.
After playing around on the website, I was able to find lists of my students that had their predicted and actual scores. It is so surprising to see who I under-served, who was listening even though I didn't think they were, and who just glided along as usual. I loved my ninth graders this year. I thought I was doing everything right. We had an amazing in-class connection, their work was stellar, and I just knew their scores would shoot through the roof. SURPRISE. I let a lot of freshmen fall through the cracks. It was my bright ones; the ones I sometimes forget about because "they got it." My tenth graders, however, were making incredible gains. SURPRISE. I felt like I kept putting them on the back burner of my pedagogical oven (that was a really awkward metaphor; I apologize). If I could only figure out how to serve ALL levels of my students--low, middle, and high. I know how to differentiate as far as learning styles go, but how do I differentiate for learning levels? Especially in an honors class. Next year, I have to raise the bar for all students and put supports in place for those who aren't quite ready for the challenge.
My husband would like me to correct my failed metaphor...I guess I was actually putting students on the back burner of my pedagogical stove. I don't cook. Oven. Stove. Whatever!
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