Here’s what I did that helped my students and parents understand my pull out program.
When a child gets placed in my SLD program or at the beginning of each year, I give them this analogy so they understand what my goals are with them.
I first went to the teacher store and bought bulletin board board red brick border. I have 7 strips that I stack on top of each other. On the bottom strip I lable K and list all the Arizona State Standards on the strip over the bricks with a sharpie marker.
Then I do the same for 1st grade, 2nd grade up to 6h grade. I teach elementary.
I write things like count by 2’s, by 5’s, +,-,prefixes, suffixes, multiply, context clues, writing a summary and on and on stating many of the standards..
The bricks are filled with all the things the child is supposed to know.
I tell them that each row is a foundation. I tell them that it is possible but not helpful to miss a brick here or there. I then stack up blocks. I show them that you can take one or two out here and there and one could still build, but if too many are missing…….TIMBER…….trouble. I tell the students that all the kids in my room had too many bricks missing. When the bricks are mostly filled, they get to go back to general ed. This is very motivational. This way they don’t feel stupid (as much) that there is hope and I tell them how many kids who do their homework and stay focused and out of trouble often do move quicker and out sooner.
I tell the students that I am a brick filler. I find out which bricks are missing (thus all the testing) and that the child needs to learn that brick in order to build on year after year.When the quarterly testing comes around I say„,…let’s check to see if the brick is filled yet.
The children totally understand this concept. (parents love this) When they are off task or whine or don’t turn in their homework….I gently remind the child that we must get those brick. I tell them that the students back in the general ed are moving forward adding bricks too, that we must work hard to stay focused to fill these bricks in so that we can progress further.
Well, this is my last day of spring break….thought I’d share my little tip that works for me.
Hope you like this tip and find it useful.
Michelle
Re: How I motivate LD students.
Michelle it sounds like you have a wonderful chain of communication. Isn’t communication the key to everything? Your expectations are very clear and you encourage kids to help themselves working toward achievable goals.
I do this with my son. I always make sure he knows that in the end it is his work.
I think this sounds like a great system that should be written about and shared with others. Please consider publishing this in one of the journals specifically for teachers.
Re: How I motivate LD students.
That is very sweet of you to say. Thanks. You brightened up my day as I watch this was live on t.v. which is hard to watch.
THANKS,
Michelle
Re: How I motivate LD students.
Oops, I meant to write as I watch this “war” unfold on T.V.
Michelle
Re: How I motivate LD students.
Michelle,
A long time ago (seems like it anyway) I was a management consultant in the field of health care.
It is a rather complex but very interesting field. It mostly entails creating efficient/effective systems that improve the overall quality of the product. The actual product matters little as this approach works with almost anything.
When I did this it was called continuous quality improvement. Now it is called six sigma (it is a little different based more on measurable outcomes.)
Your system just reminded me of of these methods. I have always found that some people are just naturals at finding efficient/effective systems. Some people just don’t understand the need for this type of thing.
I agree about the war. It is hard to watch.
This is a wonderful way of explaining things to kids. My child would benefit from this concept because he is very hard to motivate at school. Some weeks he seems to not do any work at school; and, everything comes home to complete…- then other weeks he is on top of the world, and completes all of his work every day!! Go figure.