[MOSAIC] Comprehension in General

[Linda Reed]

Bill,
I am often at my desk at 4:30PM trying to find answers to the same  
questions that are troubling you. My lowest group of ninth graders  
wants points, so they can pass my class and not have to go to summer  
school, but they could care less about learning. It is difficult to  
find things they care about, though I have found that they love to  
hate characters (Clel Waller in Nightjohn by Gary Paulsen, and the  
principal in Nothing But the Truth by Avi). They have been in special  
reading classes so long that not only do they no desire to overcome  
their deficits, I don't think they have the courage to try. I hope  
your kids are just an anomaly. Any word on the upcoming class?  
Hopefully you will have willing participants. I ran into one of my  
students from three years ago who was so disconnected that I was  
certain he learned nothing from me all year. He is now a senior (in  
our in-school alternative program) and is on their honor roll. He  
greeted me with bright eyes, a warm smile, and a hug. Hopefully, you  
are planting seeds that others will sew.
Linda Reed
Kirkwood High School
Kirkwood, MO

I've taught art, music, film, literature, history, science,  
everything and anything, but they lack basic skills and understanding.