Success stories all around us

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Success stories all around us

  • December 31, 2015
  • Posted by: LSEM
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By Brenda Lysak – Minnesota

It seems like every week I’m recognizing and celebrating another success story on the improvements of our students. They are becoming more frequent as I wind up reading lessons with many students from St. John’s school in Corcoran, MN.

1

I met my mechanic this morning who is the happy parent of a 2nd grade boy rescued from reading below grade level.

2

I was pleasantly surprised when a Kindergarten boy read a bunch of words on cards prepared for more work sounding out and blending. He began reading them before I could get started doing the planned activity with him. When we started working together he had the lowest level of interest or skills in reading that I have ever worked with in the last 10 years. His teacher also said that in all her 40 years of teaching, she had never experienced such an improvement.

3

After about three weeks of reading lessons with an 8th grader, I began asking if he noticed any difference with his reading. The answer was “no” for several weeks. Then one day he had a big grin on his face and said he was able to do his science worksheet all by himself and only got one wrong on one assignment and two on the other. About a month later he arrived at lessons excited again because he had found a book he had tried to read last year and was able to read a chapter in 10 minutes as opposed to an hour last year.  When I first met him I told him I could get him reading at College level (9.5 grade). I could see that he didn’t believe me.  I asked him recently if he believed me now, and the answer was “yes”.

4

I had a group of four from 3rd grade who have or are returning to regular classroom work.  They are so excited. Their teacher says that by the second lesson they were showing signs of encouragement. They are doing much better at reading out loud in class.

5

One student’s whole family has benefited from me working with him on his reading and homework.  His behavior was out of control at home and he was very dependent on his parents to do his homework for him.  He is now doing most if not all of it independently. The best part is the reduced stress at home.  He has an exceptional teacher who uses the Teaching with Love and Logic methods which creates an environment that showcases a happy well adjusted 5th grader.

6

I had a group of 7th grade girls I did reading intervention with.  Two of them I recommended more instruction and talked with a mom of one.  She said her daughter’s reading habits had so changed for the better she didn’t think more reading lessons were necessary.

7

I am learning to be helpful with two boys at different levels in 5th grade Math. My faltering math skills will hopefully create an environment where the students can blossom as they develop more initiative, independence and accountability. I am winding up reading intervention with two boys in 2nd grade who need math help as well.

8

I have enjoyed the challenges of developing group reading instruction to actually be instructive, the back to back intense intervention I do here, and hope for an increase in helpful involvement with the staff family at St. John’s.

There are so many exciting changes happening right in front of my eyes. I can only imagine how many children are improving every day across the country and in schools served by LSEM!