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WASL Fixation

WASL scores are down. For a new principal, this isn't good news... and you could be fired if you don't prove yourself a miracle worker to magically raise them significantly. Yesterday, that meant all my sophomores got a 50 minute power-point lecture on how to pass the WASL. Even I was slightly bored, surfing the internet. After the first session, I told him to skim over the "tips and tricks" of Reading/Writing WASL... the students have heard that song for weeks. I thought the students were all going to bust a gut and point out the sloppy handwriters, when the principal started in on "if they (the scorers) can't read it, you didn't actually write it."

Speaking of handwriting - does anyone know of any teachers who still teach this? Do they demand that students write everything legibly or practice cursive writing? Rumor has it that a school below mine (which shall not be named) insists that teachers do not say a word about student handwriting at any point. This means, I end up with freshman who can't even read cursive, let alone write it. Some of their handwriting reminds me of my 4 year old niece's. The floor of a chicken coop is easier to read... and I know at least one student who will fail the WASL simply because of his handwriting. Obvisously, pennmanship was not part of the high school curriculum during my teaching education or even high school experience - it was already supposed to be ingrained. I've resorted to printing out homeschooler worksheets for my students... what should I do?

Comments

Mama Kelly said…
I live in New Jersey. Both of my girls are in grade school, one in Kindergarten and one in 5th grade. Handwriting is part of their curriculum and even the 5th grader will get comments on her work if its illegible.

I can't imagine kids getting to HS and not being able to write legibly.
8:57 AM
Mr. McNamar said…
For the last two weeks, I have taught my 9th graders (almost all signed up to take the WASL) how to pass the WASL--Reading skills and Writing Skills. I have coached them through a reading assessment that looks like the WASL; I have given them two practice writing assessments based on OSPI released items; and today during our pep assembly for our basketball program going to state, we are having ten minutes dedicated to pumping up the WASL takers!
1:10 PM
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