[MOSAIC] A new problem

[Bill Roberts]

> Sounds like you have a stronger class this year.
>
> Laura C

Yeah, things are a lot different now, but even though the classes have 
changed, the number of problems have not..  I now have 6th, 7th, and 8th 
grade advanced readers.  Last year, one of the areas where test scores 
dropped at our school was in the advanced classes, so my principal asked me 
to "challenge" them.  I thought this was going to a "real" advanced class, 
but I've found otherwise.

After the first week or so, I noticed a few students were having some 
difficulties.  When I checked their state test scores, they were passing 
grades, but BARELY passing, so I asked my administrators and they told me 
they took them out of regular classes hoping they will do better in a 
different environment away from the behavior problems.  I've got mostly 
students who read on level, but I have 2 or 3 in every class who are below 
level.

Also, I've discovered that most of them are NOT advanced.  They mostly score 
well on state tests.  They know how to read questions and find answers, but 
they DO NOT KNOW HOW TO READ WELL.  I assigned one story to be read for fun, 
and asked them to give me an opinon on what they thought of the story.  Most 
couldn't do it.  Because they know the system, many regurgitated the 
strategies I had been using and saying things like "I couldn't make a 
connection to the character even though I tried to predict or infer a 
reference using my schema." because they knew that it would make them sound 
as if they knew what they were talking about!  Others just closed the book 
when they were finished "reading" but they did not understand the story and 
were waiting for me to explain what happened....something they have learned 
from other teachers....if they don't understand the story, don't worry about 
it because the teacher will explain the meaning.  Boy, were they surprised 
when I didn't explain the stories!  A few even answered the questions that 
came with the story even though I expressly told them not to do it.

Even though they are on grade level and scored well on state tests, most 
have never been taught to think about a story..only answer lower level 
questions.  I picked a sad story for the 6th graders about a boy and his dog 
and many analyzed the parts, but wouldn't see the whole story for the sad 
ending.  The 7th graders did the same thing and were able to tell me the 
story backwards and forwards, but they had few opinions about the story 
which was an O.Henry story about love and retribution.  The 8th graders read 
"The Monkey's Paw" and because of the archaic language, didn't try to 
understand it and were waiting for me to explain.

I did not give them any background information or help because I wanted to 
see how they would do on their own since they were supposedly "advanced" and 
I was shocked...

...Another example of how test scores have underminded kids' thinking 
processes....

Bill