This book tells stories of life in a “failing” school. These are insider stories of the daily lives of children and educators in an urban school during a time when accountability weighs heavy on both teachers and students. Most educators are in favor of accountability. The kind and amount of testing associated with the current accountability movement, however, influence teachers’ and students’ lives in a way not often apparent to parents and politicians.
Acknowledgments.Chapter 1. About This Book; Marilyn Johnston-ParsonsChapter 2. Welcome to Park Street Elementary School; Melanie McCaulskyChapter 3. From the Desk of the Professional Development Facilitator and a First-Second Grade Teacher; Melissa WilsonChapter 4. From the Desk of the Special Education Teacher; Marilyn KarlChapter 5. From the Desk of the Kindergarten Teacher; Melanie McCualskyChapter 6. From the Desk of a First-Year Kindergarten Teacher; Jeff BernardiChapter 7. Living in the Land of a Scripted Reading Program; Marilyn Johnston-Parsons, Melissa Wilson, Gerrie McManamon, Marilyn Karl, Melanie McCualsky, Steve Schack, Barbara Mounts, Christie Doty and Vickie SwankChapter 8. From the Desk of the First-Grade Teacher; Elizabeth LloydChapter 9. From the Desk of the Third-Grade Teacher; Gerrie McManamonChapter 10. From the Desk of First Year Third-Grade Teacher; Andrew NashChapter 11. From the Desk of a Fourth-Grade Teacher; Steve SchackChapter 12. From the Desk of the School Counselor; Martha BowlingChapter 13. From the Desk of the Fifth-Grade Teacher; Robert OwensEpilogue; Marilyn KarlGlossary.Author Bios.