Student Retention- An Annual Dilemma

One of the issues that perennially confront teachers and administrators is whether or not to retain a student. According to the National Association of School Psychologists, student retention can be harmful. There have been several studies that have pointed to this conclusion.  First- a student can be emotionally traumatized to have to spend another year in the same grade. It can lead to poor self-esteem and can ruin established friendships. Second- studies have indicated that any academic gains are short lived. 

So how do teachers deal with the issue of a student with has not had a successful academic school year?  A number of schools have tried to use summer school programs as an alternative to retention. Their goal is to not make school seem like dread or worse- a prison. Since there is a learning loss for all students during the 10-12 week summer vacation, having a program of reinforcement can be successful.  Other schools have developed independent summer reading programs for students with awards for students who complete the program. Computer assisted curricula scan also work during the summer.

One of the recurring themes when this topic is researched is who gets retained. Unfortunately, minority students, and students from low socio-economically distressed families, tend to be at the top of the retention list. This is an issue that will not go away until there is more academic equity. Lest, I sound like a broken record- take a look at Cultural Literacy by E.D. Hirsch, Jr. or Why Johnny Can’t Read by Rudolf Flesch. Until we have more economic equity, we will not have more academic equity.

c.2015 J. Margolis

BACK TO SCHOOL ALREADY!

It’s never too early to start thinking and planning for the next school year.

Since teachers in different states have different summer vacation schedules, some professionals will be returning to the classroom in less than a month. Yikes!

There are a number of thinks that teachers can do to be prepared for the first day of school. Here is a ten-point checklist to get ready for opening day.

1)   Check your supply order. Have your ordered sufficient quantities of the materials you will need?

2)   Have your previewed and obtained approval for new textbooks and have they been ordered?

3)   Submit classroom repair and work orders to the appropriate administration officials.

4)    If possible, review the cumulative folders for incoming students. Do any of them have disabilities that require preferential seating? Students who wear glasses or have hearing aids need to be seated in the front, for example.

5)   Prepare a letter to parents welcoming their children to your class and outlining your classroom expectations.

6)   If you have taken any graduate courses, be sure transcripts were sent to your district office to ensure you receive appropriate professional development credit or eligibility for a pay raise.

7)   Try to find out from the administration if any new students have transferred into your district. They will be looking for new friends on the first day of school.

8)   Keep up to date with current issues regarding education in your state legislature. At the federal level, be aware of the fact that the No Child Left Behind Act is up for renewal.

9)    Be sure that your own physical and emotional health are fit and ready to return to the classroom. Have your annual check-up.

10)     Make it a habit of checking this blog periodically for teaching tips and reviews of current issues of education.

c. 2015 J. Margolis

Kids Need Books

According to a recent editorial in the Trenton Times, the typical suburban family has an average of 17 “age –appropriate” books per child while in urban areas there is one book per 300 children. Furthermore, according to Reading is Fundamental, two thirds of children living in poverty have no books at all. Couples that with the fact that during the summer months school libraries are closed, you can see the literacy crisis that occurs every year. Across the country, there are numerous organizations that have programs to get books into the hands of children but it is far from sufficient.

Literacy does not end on the last day of school and the ten to twelve week layoff can cause irreparable harm to children, especially those who do not have access to books during the summer.  Summer school programs can be effective, but they are costly and many school districts throughout the country have eliminated them due to budget constraints.

One program in Naples, Florida is" K is for Kids" whose goal is to get books into the hands of children who need them. A number of years ago, a student group from Ocean City, New Jersey, went to local hospitals and gave a “first book” to the parents of all newborns. We need more programs like these. I would encourage publishers of children’s books as well as distributers, to donate returned books or overruns to charitable groups and schools to be distributed to students.

c.2015 J. Margolis