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Things I've Learned So Far

Since accepting the position of RtI coordinator for my school I've learned the following things...

  • My school is guided by people who need to think more long term... last year's RtI team was made up of all new teachers, most of whom did not return this year. It also has almost no support from any staff members who have been at the school for more than two years. They also paid to train a bunch of teachers last summer who are not, nor ever have been, on the RtI team. Again, because no one supports it.
  • My school is guided by really nice people who want to make a difference in student's lives. Sadly, many of their ways of doing this annoy the crap out of me.
  • RtI is a law. The way to implementation is not... thus people can actually screw around with it in many obnoxious and unhelpful ways.
  • RtI is now a step to special education. I now get numerous emails asking for student X or Y to be tested. I get almost no other information because apparently it doesn't matter. Just test them.
  • We have no tests for Math. We have no testing matrix for math - which is actually good, since it took me three weeks to figure out the reading testing matrix. Someone forgot that here in the US, we read from right to left. Also, each step should be labled a different number. If they're all labled the same step number then they really aren't different steps.
  • No one told me that I'd be spending approximately 25% of my time outside of my classroom, when I actually have students in my room to be taught. Sadly, I do get an extra prep period, but no one ever wants or schedules a meeting then. Another teacher is actually paid to cover my class during a weekly meeting I must attend. I not only teach my classes, but I also spend extra time writing lesson plans so that others can teach my classes.
  • I'm drowning in paperwork.
  • I actually enjoy doing data crunching. I really wish I had a color printer... color coding makes me giggly.
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Comments

The Science Goddess said…
I'm enjoying honing my Excel Ninja skills, too.

Not sure when the whole diagnostic/intervention stuff will be sorted out for more than just reading (and for the whole k-12 continuum)...but we need it.
6:46 PM
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