Problem posting as a comment...

Hey guys, this is supposed to be my comment, but it is telling me it is too long? So i hope its ok i just am adding it as a seperate post...

Kayla, I definitely agree about having someone to go to. As a side note, the teacher I work with at work in a preschool class does nothing like this. It has always bothered me that she wants to do everything on her own and doesn’t go to anyone for ideas - especially the teachers that had her students last year. It has really made me think about the importance of relationships in a school.
Before going into details about specific students, I’d like to point out that Mrs. Potter doesn’t mention much about the students except for what they are doing in school (except for the explanation about Lupita’s life in Mexico). I think she should talk to the parents to find out more about what their home life is like. There could be other things that are influencing the way they are in school.
I would also like to know more about Lupita’s language skills. It mentioned other experiences she lacked, including socialization, but the teacher didn’t mention how she was doing with her English language learning. I agree that it would account for many of her struggles. I think that the puzzle skills can tell a lot. Mrs. Potter could find other games or problem solving activities that don’t require much language to assess Lupita in different ways. If Lupita is not already, it could really be beneficial for her to be involved in an English Language Learning program. I feel like she needs to feel more comfortable and included in the classroom for her to open up as well. If Mrs. Potter would include things about Mexico or introduce the class to things Lupita is familiar with, she could feel more important in her classroom community and be able to relate to lessons in a more meaningful way.

Jonathan is interesting to me because he is who I feel I have the least amount of information from. I think I would want to know more about Jonathan’s interests. If Mrs. Potter could expose him to books that relate to him and/or his interests I think that he would have more of an interest in reading. For example, since he plays baseball, that could be a good place to start: books involving baseball. Even though Mrs. Potter has talked to Jonathan about asking for help, this could be something very embarrassing for a student, especially if he is further behind classmates. Maybe they could come up with a different signal until he feels more comfortable and confident. Another possibility, while I know it is hard to keep on top of every student, is to just make sure she checks in with him herself. I liked your suggestion, Kayla, about giving his parents suggestions. If confidence is something that is holding him back, maybe Mrs. Potter could arrange for him to work with a student in a lower grade or lower level, where Jonathan is reading to that child or helping them learn something. I also agreed with having to explain in different ways. This is something we keep coming back to: the simple fact that different students learn differently. Maybe even having another student explain things to him would be in more of a way that he understands.

Kayla, I also have a family member with Attention Deficit Disorder, so I, too, thought of this right away for Eddie. I wouldn’t want to label it right away of course, but I think the worst thing to do would be to put any constraints on him. If he is having trouble sitting still, then making him remain still will only have a negative impact on his learning. The engagement with the tadpoles also interested me. If things like this interest Eddie, then maybe Mrs. Potter could try incorporating them in more lessons. It would keep Eddie from wanting to move around, but she also doesn’t want him to just be intrigued with the tadpoles. So, maybe if she pulled Eddie aside and gave him a preview of some of the things she will be looking for during her lesson (I.e. number of eggs) it could maybe push Eddie to pay more attention. Something I have seen used is a “fidget tool,” or something to let a student move around, while still being involved in a lesson. I would also suggest getting someone, like the IEP specialist you mentioned, to come in and observe Eddie in her classroom.