[MOSAIC] Chris and small successes

[Chris Preston]

#1 thing I think that has contributed to Abel's success is that I loved 
this kid from Day 1.
I'm a sucker for underdogs and kids that last year's teacher did not 
like and he had a 10 inch stack of referrals to back that up. Not only 
did last year's teacher not like him but she told me that he can't read 
and his parents refused to retain him. She never referred him to the SST 
because she was sure that he would be retained. He didn't attend 
tutoring or summer school. He is smaller than the other kids and the 
baby of 9. He is also an ELL.
I have included him in mixed ability groups with HM. I have him sitting 
by me and I have checked every piece of work that he does. I cut his 12 
Spelling Words down to 6 and worked with him (and the other 5 ELL kids) 
for 10 minutes every day with the small white boards on patterns and 
some Rebecca Sitton type/Words Their Way type activities. I taught him 
to use the LCD remote and made him my remote/TECH person.
I read aloud to my class twice a day (1 picture book and a chapter 
book.) I made him sit by me, side by side every day since the beginning 
of school. I have praised and laughed and hugged him as if he was my own 
personal child.
I also went to the school library and begged to check out 10 books at a 
time (at his level.) We use AR at our school and he had all those books 
to choose from during Silent Reading even though they were a 0.5 level.
 Pressing on but I am a very happy camper!
Susan Kovalik taught me a long time ago...the bond of the teacher and 
the child is worth more than any program or curriculum...I have always 
believed this and Abel is my success story this fall.
Cindy wrote:
> I haven't read this list in quite some time (overload at work), but I was intrigued with your success!  What do you think has been particularly beneficial in bringing this nonreader to this point?
> Cindy/VA/2nd
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