This is my first year teaching at high school level. It is also my first year teaching ESE. I am learning to slow things down, and to have more patience.

While students were finally working indep. a student asked me to help him with a word. I decided that since this was his 5th time asking, I would sit next to him and allow him to echo.

After about 5 minutes, he looked at me and said, "I have never had a teacher read with me".

That broke my heart.

It makes me think, if someone had, would he be a better reader, would he be in ESE? I hate to admit it, I may be guilty, I don't know, but sometimes students are overlooked, just to get rid of them.

It kills me each time I think about it.

I think it is wondeful how you helped him and learned something in return.

You are right, if only others had taken the time. I also want to point out (which I'm sure you already have probably thought about), if he gave up on try 4, he wouldn't have received your help.

Why do some students need to ask repeatedly to only be turned away? When wearing the parent hat, I've heard too many times my child relay stories of asking for help only to be denied and told just do the work. Unfortunately, without the question being answered the quality of the work suffers because the question was relevent to understanding what was supposed to be done.

I'm so happy you learned this fantastic lesson. Keep sharing!

[kas327]

How touching! Isn't amazing how something so small makes such a difference? So many of us are focused on getting through the curriculum that we don't stop to focus on the students as individuals. Thanks for sharing.

[happygal]

someone reading with him.