Comments on: What’s more important than rocking the API

By: Kelly

Kelly — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:48:52 +0000

I have known Ms. Navarro for 15+ years, and she is one of the hardest working individuals I know. This article is a testament to that and a beautiful example of the thoughtful and individualized instruction every student deserves.

By: Judy Soberanis

Judy Soberanis — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:05:17 +0000

Monica,

It is teachers like yourself that will make the world a better place, one student at a time.

Keep up the amazing work.

Judy Soberanis

By: Rita Jessen-Martinez

Rita Jessen-Martinez — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:34:53 +0000

Good job, Monica. It is exciting that you recognize the successes in those students who don’t always make great gains in their test scores. Keep up the great work!

By: catrina

catrina — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 22:40:12 +0000

You’re such a great teacher — keep up the good work! <3

By: Nabila

Nabila — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 06:11:50 +0000

Absolutely! After all, isn’t a student’s love for reading one of the biggest predictors of success in academia? And where do we test that?
Go Monica!!!

By: Sami

Sami — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:35:22 +0000

This is such an inspiring story. Sometimes it’s hard to keep going on when you can’t see immediate results, but this story showed me that all of the little extra things you do in life really do count. This child is going to grow up and never forget you, the woman who helped him find joy in learning. You put forth a little extra care that went a long way, you are a great person that will make a difference in the lives of many children. Keep up the great work!!

By: Jose, Former Student

Jose, Former Student — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:55:18 +0000

Ms. Navarro,

Continue to give your students a good education and they can achive great things in life. We always need
good teachers in our public schools.

Thank you!

By: Jim Farwell

Jim Farwell — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:56:52 +0000

I’m happy for your effort on behalf of your students. Our keeping in mind that children are people and not computer terminals is helpful. Human involvement, encouragement, and caring serve as motivators. What you and your colleagues did was to acknowledge this young person and to connect with what speaks to him. It is often a trial and error method, at best. In the long run it does what you find that it did for your young student. Congratulations to all!

While testing has its place, there are numerous ways to show growth or continued need with our students. Not all people are the same, learn in the same way,at the same rate,or are even developmentally ready to learn specific material at the same time. To humanize our efforts on behalf of our students is an essential ingredient in meeting their needs.

With warmest regards,

Jim

By: TheTruthHurts

TheTruthHurts — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:45:59 +0000

It has always been true that with motivation and a bit of guidance, most students will do remarkably well — if not on tests — in life. It’s also true that many of us can trace our sense of motivation to succeed and learn to our parents and/or our teachers. Turning on that light and keeping it on are clearly one of the fundamental things good teachers do. While I’m a proponent of testing what we value (including math and English) , I wonder how we test for this?

By: Public school fan

Public school fan — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:43:40 +0000

What a moving story! This is education at its best — caring teachers working together to address the complex and specific needs of individual children on their own terms. This is a true success story. And I agree with Ms. Navarro’s feeling that the test scores are not the end all and be all. You must look at what every child is achieving — is it his or her best? And, if not, how can we get them there? This is what ALL teachers and administrators should be asking themselves about EVERY child in class. How can we help this child to achieve at his or her highest level? And then doing it. It is helping those that need help and challenging those who already understand the material. This story ably demonstates that a school is not all about test scores.