Week 8 Discussion - Elementary Curricula
alondclayola
University_Course671_Wk8_DQ0_Sample2_ElementaryCurricula_Tc04232019.docxElementary Curricula
Where do you find some contradictions about the effectiveness of summer school reading programs in the two articles?
The two articles disagree in regards to who is affected most, the first saying that it is not universal across geography, grade level or subject and the second article seems to think summer programs in low income areas still do not impact lower income students the same as higher income students.
They both agree that middle-class students seem to benefit more from summer reading programs than their lower-SES peers.
Did that surprise you?
What surprised me most was summer reading program not affecting lower-SES students. This surprises me because most of my experience has been in title one schools, with experience in summer school. Summer schools in my larger school district is teachers from all over the district, therefore the students and staff are mixed from their “homeschool” so there is no way they would have access to far “different” resources.
What might be the reason for this conclusion?
Hearing this information, what I think would first need to be assessed would be attendance. Working in all schools I have learned how much school presence is important for students.
How would you challenge teachers to "break out of that mold" to show better results for those students who are classified as low SES?
My former principal used to say that we need to stop making excuses for our students, we just need to do everything in our power, with what we have, we need to grow them, push them, and nurture them, no matter what! It takes a lot, and it is a cultural and mind state shift, but it can be done.
Do we always have to be satisfied with the idea that children in the low SES column will automatically not be able to perform?
Absolutely, in fact it should be the opposite we should never be satisfied, we should always be working to find what makes those that are successful and mimic as much as humanly possible.
Why do you think that idea has become almost common practice?
It is far easier to say that students are always behind, will never catch up then it is to work extremely hard to be constantly filling gaps and reteaching. Especially because students from lower socio economic homes also tend to hop schools more frequently.
