Retiring Principal and Students' Writing Improves!

BRRR! So cold outside today, but not near as cold as it is in the northern states. But I did have to leave my water running (a steady slender stream) in my little classroom to prevent the pipes from freezing since temperatures are expected to be around 20 tonight. Sounds like a waste of water, and the school will have a water bill to pay, but that must be much less costly than repairing bursted pipes.

I heard some rather unhappy news (for our school) today... at our staff meeting our principal announced she indeed was going to retire at the end of this school year. She's been teaching, vice-principaling and principaling for forty or more years, and she wasn't too happy to tell us that she was leaving. There have been health concerns with her husband, he's been declining in this condition, he needs a daily caregiver now, and she wants to be the one to take care of him. She has grandchildren to spend time with, and the rest of her family... it is a good reason to retire. If anyone deserves it, this woman does. I'm happy for her in that regard.

I've only just gotten to know her. She was elected Principal of the Year in our school system for 2006-2007, and has an outstanding reputation in the educational realm here in NC. I am proud to be working in her school. She says it's our school, that the teachers and staff made this school, not herself. She is a modest woman as well.

I also heard some exciting news earlier today. Well, for me it was very exciting. Teachers live to hear good news about the students they teach. They love to hear that their students were excelling in some area, that they behaved especially well for the substitute, or on a field trip. We find ourselves beaming with pride, and taking just a wee bit of credit for the good that they do. We are not far from acting like parents, at times.

One fifth grade teacher, as she passed me in the hall today, was all smiles as she approached me. "You are going to be so surprised when you see how they did on that writing test!" she tried to whisper, only it came out a little stronger than a whisper. I was overjoyed!

                                               

My fifth grade students, who took the writing test two weeks ago, did very well it seems. Of the eight who are in my writing class, three have passed, two were only one point from passing it, and the rest earned a higher score than the last time they were tested. There is going to be another writing test in April I believe. I hope by then I will have given them the instruction they need to write a persuasive essay.

I asked their regular ed teacher what had she noticed about their writing this time ... what had improved the most since their previous test? She replied that their writing had more structure this time. They were weak in the use of conventions (capitalization,spelling,and punctuation), though, and that will hurt a fifth grader.

Yes, I did beam a little myself today after hearing the good news. Can't wait to tell my students tomorrow!

 

I don't know to whom I should credit the smile frog. Do you? He came to me in an email last year, and I thought he was too cute. If you know where it came from, let me know so I can add the link or at least the credit of its creator! Thanks. bea