Reading on the Rez!

Since I have a new job this year as "Reading Coach" at my old school I've decided to dedicate my blog to my new job. Hopefully, I will have time to update it more often.

1. What I do:

My job as "Reading Coach" has taken me out of the classroom. Instead of having students for students, I now have teachers for students. We have adopted the "Student-Focused Coaching Model" by Jan Hasbrouk. This model is sort of a "peer coaching" model designed to focus on helping students achieve. I help teachers problem solve to come up with better instructional strategies in the classroom. As part of my job, I also perform "Informal Reading Inventories" on students to find reading levels and diagnose any problems that a student may have if certain interventions are not working, as well as helping teachers make "data driven" decisions about their instruction.

2. Here is our Profile:

Below is a diagram of what a "normal" school population should look like as far as literacy. Popularly this is known as the "Three-Tier Model" and it can be used for just about any subject or set of data at school.


Our profile is exactly the opposite. We have a large population of students with "Intensive Needs", while having a small population at "Grade Level". This seems to be the "norm" here on the Rez. It looks as though we have our work cut out for us!

3. Basketball for me this year.

The school that I currently work for has a very inconsistent program at the High School level. Traditionally, this school has been a "powerhouse" when it comes to athletics at the K-8 level. However, Once students finish 8th grade the "good students" transfer to other schools and it hard to maintain a "feeder system" for the HS here. I see that also as part of my mission!

I like my new position and it is very challenging, however I find myself longing to be back in the classroom and teaching students!