While discussing some things with a third grader recently, I had an "AH HA" moment. This third grader if G/T in math and has been reading since about 3 and 1/2 to 4 years old. She has owned oral language since very early in her life. Yet, this brilliant, gifted child began to tell me how she was not as good in math and reading as she used to be.
When I asked what made her think that was true, she began by describing how SuccessMaker has convinced her of this fact in math. She is working above grade level (not sure how far) and she shared that she only gets about 50% of her questions right in SuccessMaker. Then it dawned on me - she has lost confidence because she can't do math that we haven't taught her. When we assess her, she keeps getting items until she gets things that she can't do. Her vision of math after computer lab and after MAP testing is of math that she CAN'T DO, not on all the math she CAN DO.
When the conversation turned to reading, it was the same story. When I asked what she was reading, she told me it was the wonderful book Sounder. Although she likes the book, she struggles because she does not understand the book. She knows, or can figure out, all the words and knows the story. This slows her down and reduces her pleasure in reading. The pleasure is why she reads. She is struggling with understanding the meaning of the book. Does her reading ability allow her to read this book and comprehend the story? Absolutely, yes. Is she mature enough to fully understand and enjoy the book? Probably not. She is perceptive enough to know that she is struggling with the conceptual basis of this great book. Intrinsically, she does not want to read books that are below her ability, but the little girl in her wants to read books that other third grade girls read and enjoy. Somehow, she's gotten the message that reading an easy book that you like is a bad thing. Worse, when she's older and can fully enjoy the book, she probably won't read it again based on this experience.
By now, you might be asking , so what? As I reflected on her situation, I got to thinking, how many of our most able students here at Kellett are feeling this same way? Are our practices causing our best students to lose confidence in themselves as learners? Sadly, there is some evidence from Successmaker and from MAP to suggest that they are. Right now, I don't have answers, but I know for sure that we need to find them. We need our best students to perform at their peak levels if we are to reach our goals for Kellett this year. Let the conversation begin!
Listening to my 3rd grader at home, I can say that he feels the same way. I have tried to explain that he is being assessed on Success Maker at a higher level, and that he has not received the instruction yet for those questions. I feel we really need to look at how we are serving our high flyers. It is not acceptable to make them wait to learn more until they are in a particular grade level. They need to know now. We can not put learning on pause.
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