Today was my first day volunteering at Wayside Elementary, and it was a very interesting experience from the start. When I walked in, it was very bright, walls in pastel colors and street signs in all the hallways. The school was modeled as a town and helped to teach addresses and giving directions. The next thing that really stuck out was a bunch of large posters, showing the NECAP scores, and this school did not score very well. I was a bit confused about why they were displayed so openly to parents and visitos, so I asked Mrs. Johnson, and like the RIDE statistic website name implies, information is key. She said they should not be ashamed of where they are, that everyone has to start somewhere, that progress is something to be proud of.
The demographics of the school are a typical urban school very close to the demographic of the surrounding area: almost 60% Hispanic, over 25% African American and under 5% Caucasian. Almost all the students qualify for subsidized lunch, and half receive ESL services, 10 times the state average. However, unlike the surrounding area, the school had an affluent look to it, it stuck out from the surrounding buildings. The school had been recently renovated and was well maintained, they were trying to create a place where students felt not only comfortable but proud to attend. This did not always work, as chronic absenteeism is far above the state average. The school as a whole did not make sufficient progress last year, the closest percentage points difference was 29 points below the state average.
The school had a very different feeling than I am used to in schools. There was a very comfortable atmosphere, the teachers wore mostly t-shirts with the school's logo. I worked with all female teachers, but none of the students, male or female had any problem hugging the teachers. There was a definite sense of respect, the students understood that when they were misbehaving, they would be corrected and almost always listened.
By the way, Mrs. Johnson was not a typical elementary teacher, she was actually the math specialist for the entire school. From what I understand, everything she does is mostly Tier 2 and 3, but she works with a majority of the students because this is considered a "turnaround school". She was very caring and was adamant about doing her best to help the students, she even pointed out to me when she made mistakes. She was not afraid to reward good behavior or take away privileges. She also had bottled water and fruit in her fridge for the students.
In general, the school seemed like it was a great place for those students who need extra help, they try to find a model to best teach the student, but at the same time, make sure that progress is made.
All numbers were gathered from http://infoworks.ride.ri.gov
Great job, Shanon!
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