Blog 3 – “EXTRA! EXTRA!...HIGH EXPECTATIONS!!!”

Sometimes I think the education system sells many of our students short.  Some things are watered down because the thought is that that some students will just never get something or be able to something.  In section two, The Essential Reading Day, of Reading Essentials by Regie Routman there are so many challenges for educators to keep expectations high and put a lot of responsibility on the students.  “We need to support students in becoming more self-sustaining, thoughtful, independent readers and writers” (Routman 39).  Teaching with a sense of urgency by making every moment that you have with students count, is just so true.  Helping the students learn to put thought and take responsibility through the optimal learning model helps them with not only becoming better readers but also with self-confidence.  “Their reward for their successful learning is intrinsic, personal pride and pleasure in their accomplishments” (Routman 47). 
As you are trying to build the responsibility of the students, allow them to have a lot of input with things like what is included in the classroom library.  “A great way to begin organizing your library is to find out what your students like to read” (Routman 68).  Then when you have a good classroom library setup, allow and schedule independent reading time.  “A study of middle school students found that students preferred independent reading and teacher read-alouds above most other activities” (Routman 97).  So again, the main objective is getting students to read…so give them the time to read things that they find enjoyable, and trust them to choose challenging selections! 
Then make sure that their progress is assessed, and “used to improve teaching and learning” (Routman 98).  When it comes to assessments…

“Assessments should bring about benefits for children, or data should not be collected at all.” – Lorrie A. Shepard

It all comes down to challenging your students, pushing them to have high standards for themselves, letting them have a part in choosing things that they are interested in, placing some of the responsibility on them, and tracking the data to see that they are improving.  Basically, having high expectations for each of them!