definately doesn't work. I teach special ed students and they already struggle to get thur high school. Teachers don't like to follow IEP's and believe that all stduents can do their work. NOT! Next school year, if a special ed student has a portfolio, they have special ed classes....all others are being thrown to the wolves in regular ed classes...we don't have enought special ed teachers as it is....let alone a special ed teacher for every regular classroom! Parents should start a revolution!
I'm ready to help parents start that revolution! My youngest daughter, an early childhood special ed teacher, has decided to take an indefinite sabbatical from teaching because of the NCLB regulations placed on "her" children. While she has a little one at home, and another on the way, I'm glad that she is able to stay home to be with them but she is a darn good teacher and would ,like to be in the classroom. She says she may recertify in PE or gifted education. What a loss for the children...
Fortunately for me, I don't have too much involvement with NCLB because I am a preschool teacher. So far, our school system has been pretty hands-off! More than likely, I will be retired before something ,like NCLB tries to put its sticky claws on us! My little town, Tuscaloosa, AL, is at the forefront of preK education in our state, thanks to our progressive young mayor. He campaigned on a platform that included free PreK for all at-risk four year olds. Our school system, community leaders, and the private sector are working hard to make this a reality. So far, we have 19 preK units spread out among our 12 elementary schols. The only testing we do, aside from informal assessments within the classroom, is an "incoming" DIAL III to determine eligibility and another end-of-the year DIAL III to determine growth. I love giving that test in May because the growth is phenomenal!
Here, Here, to teachers who understand the frustration that ese students have. I teach in an alternative program affiliated with Broward County. I am in a mixed setting of students between 16-20 inner city. I am the traveling ese teacher for my area. Our alternative program has been very successful in making sure the ese students come with us from their old high schools with IEP so that most of them are exempt from passing the FCAT testings and graduate with a special diploma. Most of my students have previous jail records and lots of problems at home (if they live at home), but they are so very grateful,l and I love my job. I agree that when they are thrown to the wolves specifically in high school that is where they can really run into trouble, especially with the law. More funding is needed. Ibis
I feel that frustration, too. I work with Spec ed and ESL students. This year, so many of them failed TAKs. While I think my ESL kids need to wise up and get more serious about their studies, many of the spec ed kids just don't have the abstract thinking skills required. Never will.
