This comment was posted here by Cherie Thomas a few days ago. I see it as a tremendous breakthrough not just for Cherie but for all of us. Cherie please thank that person for her vision on behalf of everyone in this blog community and those throughout the country and world who are trying to implement stories in their buildings. Honestly, this reaches deep down into my heart and soul. To read this after all we’ve been through, even if it is just happening now in a few places like there in Virginia and here in Denver, is just very liberating:
Cherie shares:
I just now had an impromptu meeting with our new WL Director, and it went really well!
As far as the HS teachers complaining about my kids not being prepared, she said that they need to look at how they are going to change their instructional approach to meet my kids, not the other way around. We talked about county standards (there currently aren’t any), and ACTFL proficiency levels and core effective strategies, which do not emphasize discreet grammar. She is going to start sending out SLA articles to all teachers to discuss in PLC’s and make proficiency discussions part of the curriculum meetings and not common assessments. She is also going to start bringing naysayers into my classroom to observe and talk about how they can incorporate those strategies into their instruction. She also said I was a pioneer and they need to rise to where I am. She thanked me for my passion, dedication, and for teaching my students from the heart. Also I was told that under no circumstances am I to use my classroom time to teach them verb charts and grammar rules. Send them home with a summer packet to study from on their own time was her suggestion.
I feel like a 2 ton boulder was just lifted off my back! She asked me what resources I need, so I am hoping to get some training out this way. Hopefully your people will soon recognize the gold mine they have in you!
I am so jealous of everyone able to attend the Cascadia training this summer. Seeing Sabrina in action was such an inspiration! I would love to take a class with her again. Maybe the following year…