One of the dilemmas that I am currently facing is what to say to fellow teachers when they tell me they simply do not have the time to reteach a skill, even though half of the class is not understanding it. I want to ask how can you not reteach it, but they are already moving on to how little time is left in the school year with so much curriculum left to teach. How can you argue with that, yet how can you not argue that the data says half of your class does not have this skill and it needs to be retaught. Is this a fault in the curriculum? Is there not enough time devoted to this particular skill or is it the make up of the class or the presentation of the materials? Who decided these issues? I don't view that decision making as mine, yet whose is it?
Likewise, when I speak to another staff member about possibly backing up a bit with one particular student and making sure that student has the basic skills needed for reading and being told no that student is just fine. I have assessed that student and no, he/she is not just fine and yes they do need to back up and hit that skill. What do you say then? Well, the data shows.....and it does but my fellow staff member is not buying what I'm saying. Frustration!
Flexibility is the key. There is probably another way to teach the concept and reach the students. I usually tried to find the time and tried several different approaches and methods to teach the concepts. Sometimes, even asking someone else to come in the classroom is exciting and stimulates the children. if the teacher does not agree, this is usually the rule: If it is a BENCHMARK/STANDARD for the grade level, it has to be retaught. If the concept is not a standard and the teacher thinks he/she has tried teaching it to the best of his/ her ability, then move on.
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