Summer time!

I spent the first week of summer finishing reports and looking over list servs that I had saved to browse when I had more time.  I took notes and was full of ideas of how to do things better!

And now,  I am just glad not to be teaching and to be thinking about all the challenges and problems our students face--and thus, that I face!  I have been editing this blog and am about half-way through.  It brings back so many memories that I have already forgotten.

I need to record numbers.  I think I had 72 students in all.  Only six passed the GED exam thus far.  There were just a handful who came into class at an 8th grade level or above in all three areas, so it is not expected to have many GED graduates.  The percentage of those who made "bundled gains" was much higher--in other words, went up from elementary to middle school level, or middle school to high school level in at least one area.

From my email to LeRoy:

AM class:  44 students enrolled, 28 increased one academic level, 4 GEDs

PM class:  28 students enrolled, 17 increased one academic level, 2 GEDs

Possibly 7 more GEDs in June, but that may be optimistic!  Several registered yesterday.  A couple need to do retakes to get a few more points.

It was interesting and sobering to realize that only 11 out of 44 in the AM class and 8 out of 28 in the PM class came in with scores above 6.0 grade level in reading, math and language--all three areas.  In other words, 75% entered the program at an elementary school level in at least one subject and in many cases, more than one.  GEDs are unrealistic goals for many of these students. 

I want to see how many students left before we were able to post-test. I'll check those numbers later.

 Yesterday one student did me a favor by coming in even after not being in class for two weeks (he had been in jail) and post-tested.  I thought we had nothing to lose and plenty to gain.  He post-tested up two levels in language!    And then there was one student who had more hours than anyone, is taking the GED exam, and I could not get him past 8th grade on the reading post-test--thus no money for program except the minimum for enrolling.

We should have had more GEDs however.  H and N were honored at the GED graduation as outstanding graduates.  A was there and very pleased to be there!  T from the last few years at Family Literacy was a graduation speaker.  H's attorneys came from Chicago which was really a bonus.

Now I need to get my license renewed.  This has not gone smoothly due to a transition to online renewal and now a new requirement of CPR certification.  I've had some moments of thinking about all the travel I could do if I were not working any more!  But I think I would regret giving up this role in my life--at least for now!