I thought it was going to be really hard, but I did really good on it. Since the testing week, teachers have spent time reviewing results especially on the practice Regents with their classes. They have never really taken such high stakes tests before. I think they have a better idea of what to expect in June. Student results on the June exams will really show if this and other steps taken at the High School will pay dividends in higher success rates for our students.
Initial results look favorable, however.
I hope we are able to do it again next year. The Language Arts writing lab is designed for students who need an extra boost in writing skills, as evidenced by Terra Nova test scores or teacher recommendation. In addition to working on enhancing writing skills, the lab also focuses on organizational skills, reading comprehension, vocabulary and spelling, and critical analysis skills all important in the writing process. It is the hope of the program that all children develop skills that not only will be useful in the short term, but will foster academic success across all content areas in the future. In addition, it is the goal of the lab to encourage each student to develop a life-long love of writing and reading.