Class 5 WINS!

This past week in 6th grade math we taught the concept of recognizing equations from tables and graphs and vice versa. We had a class competition over STAAR questions on Wednesday and Thursday, and I was so impressed with my students! They nailed it! I am so proud of how far they have come to merge all the concepts they've learned this year and how they can now analyze and dissect those dreaded and tricky STAAR questions!

As awesome as their educational success was, I will forget how well they did. What I won't forget is the WINs I was so lucky to witness!!

Class 5 -
My lowest and smallest class.  They are usually the lowest scoring class when it comes to all averages.
This week? CLASS 5 won the class competition with a 91% average on the STAAR practice!! They so badly needed that win! The proud look of accomplishment was astonishing! - WIN

Class 5 -
G! Where do I begin? This kid is just the sweetest, most hard working, and kindest soul! He works so hard on his homework and classwork, but unfortunately he struggles with math. Thankfully, I was able to work one on one with G and another sweet and struggling student on the STAAR practice. We had some great practice and progress in understanding. On Friday, we had a quiz. They were so successful the days before, I was really nervous about this test.
He gets his quiz and immediately gets to work. He's the first to finish and my stomach is turning from nervousness as I check his grade. 8/9...eight out of nine...EIGHT out of NINE!!!! All on his own! But is that good enough for him? Of course not! He asks to take it back to review his work because he thinks he knows which one he had wrong. He quickly returns, and yup! G is the first perfect score in class 5! - WIN

Class 5 -
IAS quietly asked our sign language interpreter, Ms. D, if he could sit with her for one on one help. She didn't quickly respond and he started to act out. He has a hard time reading and hasn't been tested for special education yet, so school has been really frustrating for this poor kid and word problems are his vice! Ms. D loudly says, "get up and bring your paper over here!" He starts moaning and whining, "man, I don't want to sit there..." I, not knowing he had already quietly made the request, tell him to not be disrespectful but thankful that she is offering to help him. Ms. D lets out a BIG smile and our student is trying so hard to hide his. She says, "he wants to sit with me; he's already asked!" With her help, he scored a solid B on his STAAR practice and was so PROUD! - WIN

Class 5 -
One of our brightest and most charismatic students has not been the same since Christmas break. Prior to Christmas break, J was engaged and excited about math class! He's so great at math!
I haven't asked too many questions, but by seeing him in the hall and hearing what other kids say, he's a good kid who is just on the edge. He runs around with a crowd that could bring him down really quick. I'm not sure how his home-life is but he's mentioned a few things that make me think it may not be the best.
This week has been extremely tough. I've had to pull him aside several times to try and calm him and encourage him. On Friday, I literally had to walk him into my class from down the hall. I pass out the quiz and he starts drawing and coloring all over it and then drops it on the floor. He is not going to take the test.
One by one, the kids finish and they are killing this test! They had 4 perfect scores from the get-go and from the most unexpected students (including G). I walk over to J's desk. I ask him if something has happened since break; is he having a bad time in other classes, with other teachers; is he having a bad time at home in the morning or at night...that last question got him. He starts rubbing his eyes and shaking his head "no". I proceed to tell him that no matter what may be going on outside -  in my class, he is cared for, he is safe, and we are SO PROUD of who he is! I tell him that Ms. D is proud, I am proud, and his classmates are proud. I ask him to reconsider taking the test for his classmates. They all loved winning the day before and they would loose badly if one student got a 0 on the test. He says yes, and of course passes the test! - WIN