After some work, I finally figured out this website! I'm so proud of myself! :)
As of right now, the conversations with my collaborator consists of asking her if she would be willing to work with me on this project. (She said yes!) I plan on speaking with her through email tomorrow since I won't actually be in school due to a workshop I have to attend. Mrs. T is a fellow 4th grade teacher. I'm aware of the students' current situation and the problems she face. I teach math so I have the same students in my class. I decided to focus on all three classes, not just one. In total, there are 50 students in fourth grade. The lowest class has the IEP students in it, but most of the students are low. At the present moment, we have 38 children identified as "at-risk". Only 69% of these students passed the SOLs last year (Virginia's Standards of Learning State Test). This group of students is teh reason why we are still in AYP improvement status.
The students currently are on I-Station for 120 minutes a week. This reading computer program works on comprehension skills then lets the teacher know what type of lessons are needed. The program also has scripted lessons. As of the current moment our administration is making her use this script. (Really goes against everything we are taught, but that's what you get when you are in year 2 improvement). The Title 1 teacher works with Mrs. T. Two groups are on the computers and two groups are with the teachers. Students meet with both teachers twice a week. On Friday, a cold read (a reading passage that students would see on the State Tests) is given as a test grade. Since using I-Station, students cold read scores have improved.
As far as writing is concerned, Mrs. S, the V.A. Studies teacher will be taking over this section. I will probably be able to make more of an impact with her. Mrs. S is in her first year of teaching fourth grade and a second year teacher. Once the writing assessment lesson is taught, I look forward to using that with the students to help Mrs. S center her instruction. I will be able to use the "mentor" role more for her than the other teacher. In fact, Mrs. T has two masters, one as a Reading Specialist. She is likely to replace that position next year. So I will be learning more from her than she will from me!
