Meeting Students Needs

In reading the Mesmer and Mesmer piece about the RTI model for reading and the Hudson piece on dyslexia, I've noticed that both focus on the learner as being capable. The traditional discrepancy model for special education services uses the deficit model- this student is not as smart as others and as the article mentioned, it's more of a wait until it's too late approach. Whereas using the RTI model allows the student an opportunity to improve before being referred to special education services. It focuses direct instruction to match the students needs. Similarly, the Hudson article mentions that teachers should view students with dyslexia not as lazy or simply in need of more practice reading but actually having a neurological issue. This way students can receive intense instruction in reading and improve, instead of letting these students fall dramatically behind without hope for getting caught up. I think it is often too easy for teachers to assume that students are struggling in reading because they are not trying hard enough, especially when students seem to be disinterested in reading. It is truly sad when students feel they are not getting the attention they need from their teacher and end up giving up on trying to improve on their own. Reading these articles reinforces for me the critical role of the teacher in identifying where students need extra support, and rather than refer them to someone else i.e. a specialist, ask themselves what I need to do. As a soon-to-be teacher it seems like an extremely daunting task to be able to identify and meet the needs of 30 or so people in all areas of their education, but critical to student success.

Anne Lamott is my therapist

Bird by Bird has been fabulous to read. I do not consider myself a writer type. I never intend to publish any books or quit my day job to devote myself to writing but I love her book anyway. I think Lamott's writing advice can easily be translated into life advice. Every time I read her it helps me to feel better about myself, and reminds me what is truly important in life- it's like a mini therapy session. I love the anecdotes too. It's wonderful how she manages to make something seemingly unrelated fit into what she's talking about so seamlessly.

One of my favorite anecdotes that she shares is on early on in the book (pg. 46) when she is discussing developing characters. She tells of her friend who goes to alcoholic anonymous meetings and one woman complains about dragging her husband from the front lawn every time he gets drunk and passes out. A woman gives this advice to her:
"Honey? Leave him lay where Jesus flang him."


This phrase has been recycling itself in my mind ever since. Although this may sound silly I have a tendency to do things repeatedly that I don't need to at all. Here's a ridiculous example: Every evening I come home and pick up all the cat toys that they have drug out of the basket during the day, knowing full well that they will continue to play with the toys the next day. So why the heck do I waste my time picking them up every day?! Just leave them lay where Cho Cho flang them!

Although this is a lot easier to say than to do, I have really been working hard to just let some things go. Do I really need to put my husband's toothbrush back where it "belongs" every day, even though it is clearly more convenient for it to be on the counter? Do I really need to clean my entire house before I sit down to do homework? Can't I just do the homework and ignore the dishes in the sink for a couple of hours?
I know this has nothing to do with writing but it's clearly important to me-
actually it's kind-of changing my life.