I got this from Skip today. It’s a good question and I’ll bet he’s not the only one thinking about this:
Hi Ben,
I have been really focusing on SLOW this year. I have REALLY gone slow with my Spanish 1 classes. I have intentionally done all of the things that Linda Li and Bryce presented in their workshop at NTPRS. This group has NO previous experience with Spanish and I am absolutely committed to leaving nobody behind….
The problem is that I have 2-3 students who have not acquired anything…. I ask them the structures that I have been circling for days and they look at me like I am speaking Chinese.
I ran the name of one of the students by the Special Ed coordinator and she said that the student can’t read and they are moving the student from my class. She indicated that he will NOT be able to succeed in my class.
I have not read a lot about this topic on moreTPRS or on your blog. I know we say that ALL students can succeed. Do we really believe that? I am very discouraged. The VAST majority is bored stiff and are more than ready to move on. They are excelling. But these 2-3 students (out of 46 students) appear to have never been in my class.
I would love to hear the experiences of others. Might I be doing something wrong?
Thanks Ben,
Skip
My response: I really do believe that anyone can learn a language. If they want to. That’s a big “if”. I feel that there is an emotional tie-in at work here. Look at how these two kids are controlling the class! Everybody has to stay back with them and that is a cool feeling of power, I bet. That’s just my hunch. It’s a power trip on you. I say flunk ’em and flunk ’em fast. Give them their zeroes, make the necessary contacts with parents and counselors. I know you guys just started in Maine so you still have time. Bottom line before you do that? Ask them privately if they want to continue even though they aren’t getting it. Look directly in their eyes so they can’t lie. If they DO want to continue on, for real (very little chance of that in my mind) then work out a contract with them and grade them in a different way. If they don’t (I think that they don’t want to be there), then move ’em out. Protect those other kids who want to learn, at all costs. But that’s just my opinion. Other ideas?