Personal Narrative: Every Student Succeeds Act
Ever felt alone? Feeling unconfident, lost, and isolated are all horrible experiences. Having family, or any strong support system is crucial to achieving goals. The ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) helps students achieve their goals with the support of their educators without ever feeling like they have failed themselves or anyone. The act, followed by its predecessor the “No child left behind act,” is a modified version that encourages teachers to support children no matter their minority, sex, race, or financial situation. It pushes teachers to equalize all students and to identify the uniqueness and quirks of each student. Education in public schools is controlled heavily by government. Because of this, it makes it difficult for teachers
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to develop plans that adjust to standards and complete all the standards in a span of 180 days of school. It is simple for a teacher to focus on teaching the material instead of focusing on the students who should be retaining it. The program brings the focus back towards the children and their personal success. Dr. Harry, the author of the book “The First Days of School,” brings a strong point to the ESSA in chapter 24. He explains that some schools in Arizona with a high Latino population (a minority) actually had better test scores. Why is that? The author recognized that these schools assessed and reassessed their students, taught and retaught misunderstood material, and did not give up until their students had a grasp on the material. They did not give up on their students and it shows in their scores. My 8th grade year of middle school was rough.
Not only was I struggling with self-image and peer pressure but all of the 7th and 8th grade elementary schools combined to create middle school. Each school was already cliquey/biased towards their elementary origins. It was difficult to make friends and school work was at the bottom of my priorities. I had dug a rut and I struggled immensely in my reading and math classes. Finally, I realized I was not alone. My teachers each supported my ideas and goals. When I did not understand something they encouraged questions and experiments. Slowly self-image and peer pressure became less of a priority. I cherished my education and I knew I had my teachers to thank. They could have easily forgotten about the tall blonde that did not pay attention. They chose a different path and it has made me into the person I am today. Did the ESSA influence their behavior towards their students? It did not matter to me, and the act will probably never get the appreciation it deserves. I think the act is more about the idea and what the teacher takes from it that creates the brilliance that it does. I believe in the mission behind the act and I do trust it has a positive influence in education.
The image I have chosen is supportive of the idea of the ESSA. The teacher is the owner of the chalk and creates lessons, challenges, and new perspectives (the steps) and uses their positive influence to help the student reach their goals(top of the steps). It is the students responsibility to use the energy to take the step, but they can experience the development every time they reflect back on their trials(back down the steps). The ESSA gives the teacher(the owner of the chalk) the guidelines and expectations to create steps for every student no matter how far down their steps my
start. The ESSA encourages students to achieve their goals with the support of their teachers. No student feels inadequate to learn the material because of any characteristics they may posse.
to develop plans that adjust to standards and complete all the standards in a span of 180 days of school. It is simple for a teacher to focus on teaching the material instead of focusing on the students who should be retaining it. The program brings the focus back towards the children and their personal success. Dr. Harry, the author of the book “The First Days of School,” brings a strong point to the ESSA in chapter 24. He explains that some schools in Arizona with a high Latino population (a minority) actually had better test scores. Why is that? The author recognized that these schools assessed and reassessed their students, taught and retaught misunderstood material, and did not give up until their students had a grasp on the material. They did not give up on their students and it shows in their scores. My 8th grade year of middle school was rough.
Not only was I struggling with self-image and peer pressure but all of the 7th and 8th grade elementary schools combined to create middle school. Each school was already cliquey/biased towards their elementary origins. It was difficult to make friends and school work was at the bottom of my priorities. I had dug a rut and I struggled immensely in my reading and math classes. Finally, I realized I was not alone. My teachers each supported my ideas and goals. When I did not understand something they encouraged questions and experiments. Slowly self-image and peer pressure became less of a priority. I cherished my education and I knew I had my teachers to thank. They could have easily forgotten about the tall blonde that did not pay attention. They chose a different path and it has made me into the person I am today. Did the ESSA influence their behavior towards their students? It did not matter to me, and the act will probably never get the appreciation it deserves. I think the act is more about the idea and what the teacher takes from it that creates the brilliance that it does. I believe in the mission behind the act and I do trust it has a positive influence in education.
The image I have chosen is supportive of the idea of the ESSA. The teacher is the owner of the chalk and creates lessons, challenges, and new perspectives (the steps) and uses their positive influence to help the student reach their goals(top of the steps). It is the students responsibility to use the energy to take the step, but they can experience the development every time they reflect back on their trials(back down the steps). The ESSA gives the teacher(the owner of the chalk) the guidelines and expectations to create steps for every student no matter how far down their steps my
start. The ESSA encourages students to achieve their goals with the support of their teachers. No student feels inadequate to learn the material because of any characteristics they may posse.