On 3/20/09, Desperate and frustrated wrote:
> I have always been a HUGE 4-blocks and Building Blocks user
> and advocate. However, I moved to a new school in November
> of this year due to circumstances beyond my control. At
> first, they left me alone, and my kids (who had been
> leveled at the beginning of the year...UGH!...and I had the
> LOWEST group) were showing amazing gains. But, that very
> quickly changed. Unfortunately, I am at one of those horrid
> schools that 100% teaches testing strategies rather than
> the actual content. Despite the gains my kids were making
> in reading and writing (which WAS evidence by their test
> scores), my admin was pretty quick to force my hand in
> doing things "their way." I am ONLY allowed to teach
> strategies in math, reading, AND writing. And, of course,
> since I have had to stop teaching and have had to become
> a "drill" sergeant, their test scores have not been
> improving and their gains have all but stopped. (But, I'm
> sure that comes as no surprise whatsoever to you!) My kids
> are, on average, two full grade levels behind where they
> should be in ALL subjects. (I teach 4th.) I now have about
> 5 weeks until our BIG state tests in math and reading, and
> I have no idea how to even attempt to do something
> meaningful and useful for my poor strugglers, when the only
> teaching materials I can use are test-prep workbooks and
> the testing strategies. Not to mention the fact that my
> admin has told me that I don't need to worry about the
> content because the kids are too far behind, and the only
> thing that will pull them through at this point is the
> strategies. They absolutely do not care if the kids can
> read, write, problem solce, or even think. All they care
> about is if they can get around their lack of skills and
> knowledge to find the right answers on the test so the
> school can maintain its precious rating. I am REALLY hoping
> you can help me out on this one! What do I do? Do I
> continue to go through the motions of what they are telling
> me to do, or is there some way I can sneak in some my good,
> 4-blocks teaching to try and get some semblance of learning
> going on? Please help!!!

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