I have tried harder in the past years to journal and do more reflecting, but it still seems to end up where I do most of my reflecting at the end of the calendar year and around my birthday. So, here we are at the end of the calendar year and a new beginning just around the corner. I can’t help but think about how the school year is going and reflect on if we are making the progress I had hoped for at the start of the school year.
I had blogged a few months back about wanting to start a reading program at my school. We have done an assessment on all the students to get a baseline and we have been doing some interventions and kids are reading! We have a few non-readers that are in the early elementary grades who have a lot of behavior issues. It’s been fun to watch them as they make the connection and the hope is that their self-esteem will rise and maybe, just maybe, a decrease in negative behaviors will occur. Some of the high schools kids, who are low readers, are now willing to do some 1:1 interventions with our support staff so they can see their progress in reading skills.
As I reflect and use this quiet time between the holidays to recharge a bit and unwind, I am grateful for all that I have and for being part of a school team that can make a difference for the students we serve. This is not an easy business we are in and the work can be hard. But it can be so rewarding. Especially when someone learns how to read or become a more confident reader. I mean, really. Does it get any better than that?
Happy New Year!
Reggie Engebritson