Notes from a Warrior Mommy: Accepting the Truth – Incorporating a Progress Monitoring Plan

Notes from a Warrior Mommy: Accepting the Truth – Incorporating a Progress Monitoring Plan

There’s a battle that rages in my head: my expectations of our son’s academic performance and the harsh reality of what he is actually producing. I know all too well that progress is about being tenacious and “hanging in there” for the long haul.

A few months ago, my son’s agenda came home from school. With great anticipation I opened it. My heart swelled with expectation and pride. I wanted so dearly to read how smart he is and how well he is doing. I am so very proud of him and of how far he has come. We have accessed every resource to help him: money, networks, and experts. Shouldn’t our input equal output?

As the page falls open, my heart sinks. I start to read the words out loud. I begin to crumble, “Wyatt scored a 29% on a reading test.  We will continue to help him improve his comprehension this year.”

To say that I am crushed is an understatement.

Part of me wants to defy the testing instrument. Another part wants to tear apart the rubric. And a third part of me just wants to crawl back under the covers and cry.

How can this be when I have worked so hard to help my son?

But, you see, that’s just it. The “it” is not about me or what I can control. It’s really about acceptance.

Now please understand that I am not giving up. In fact, I am often filled with so much determined rage that I have to seek outlets to help me digest what is before me. I run, bike and swim to process the situation. You might call me a tri-athlete. But the reality is that I am a warrior – set on a path to help my child.

It’s been a long and emotional process for me. In my heart I know and witness my child’s ability. I struggle with the fact that he doesn’t always want to demonstrate it or that he wants to comply to put for the effort.

I work and advocate endlessly on his behalf. Some days I feel like every breath is for him. It’s as if I am crawling across a floor, pushing a concrete block, to get someone to notice his potential.

The reality is that as much as I think no one at this school sees his potential – they really do. Often, they see the road blocks more clearly because they are not clouded by emotions or my anxiety.

At the core of all this is trust. I have a choice. I can tell them they are wrong or that they are unwilling to help, or I can find a way to work with them.

Is it perfect? Not always, but the reality is that if I work on building communication and cooperation, I can help my son and myself.

So what’s a warrior mom, like me, to do? I really don’t know. If I did I would be a rich woman indeed.

However, I have found a strategy that has brought me comfort and has helped my son’s advancement; it’s called Progress Monitoring. This method has been a means of increasing communication between me and all school team members.

Quite simply Progress Monitoring is a way to look at the data collected from difference perspectives to determine the best way for my child to learn.

It’s important to note that I am just a parent who shares their experiences of navigating and advocating. Educators politely refer to me as “an intense parent.” It’s a nice way of saying that I am emotional and rather blunt about what I think and what I expect for my child. However, through increased communication, trust has been built and we have been able to come together through the Progress Monitoring process.

Here is what I have learned and what I want to share to encourage you to look into Progress Monitoring for your child:

The Definition:

According to the National Center on Response to Intervention (Rti), “Progress monitoring is used to assess students’ academic performance, to quantify a student’s rate of improvement or responsiveness to instruction, and to evaluate the effectiveness of instruction. Progress monitoring can be implemented with individual students or an entire class. In progress monitoring, attention should focus on fidelity of implementation and selection of evidence based tools, with consideration for cultural and linguistic responsiveness and recognition of student strengths.”

Your Role as a Parent:

My husband put it best, “You are like the coach. You have to recruit the participation of the team members – to build core strength. You have to build the dynamic of the group to get them to think differently.” We often tell our child’s teachers that we don’t expect them to change the curriculum; we just want them to apply differential learning to engage and “reach” our son.

Be Tenacious to Schedule the Meetings:

You need to recognize that teacher planning time is almost non-existent. So you need to figure it may take 2-3 weeks to gather the team together. Start early to request the date, follow-up, and if necessary let them know you will provide refreshments. Baked cookies and cold drinks go a long way at the end of a teachers’ day.

How does progress monitoring work?

To implement progress monitoring, the student’s current levels of performance are determined and goals are identified for learning that will take place over time. The student’s academic performance is measured on a regular basis (weekly or monthly). Progress toward meeting the student’s goals is measured by comparing expected and actual rates of learning. Based on these measurements, teaching is adjusted as needed. Thus, the student’s progression of achievement is monitored and instructional techniques are adjusted to meet the individual students learning needs.

What are the benefits of progress monitoring?

When progress monitoring is implemented correctly, the benefits are great for everyone involved. Some benefits include:

• accelerated learning because students are receiving more appropriate instruction;
• more informed instructional decisions;
• documentation of student progress for accountability purposes;
• more efficient communication with families and other professionals about students’ progress;
• higher expectations for students by teachers; and
• fewer Special Education referrals.

Overall, the use of progress monitoring results in more efficient and appropriately targeted instructional techniques and goals. Together, these move all students to faster attainment of important state standards of achievement.

Who should be practicing progress monitoring?

Anyone who is interested in improving results for children should be implementing progress monitoring. Whether you are a regular educator, special educator, related service provider, administrator, or family member, you should be interested in implementing research-based progress monitoring practices.

What challenges face progress monitoring?

• Educators and families need information about the effectiveness of progress monitoring that would encourage them to adopt the practice.
• Teachers and other practitioners need support in translating progress monitoring research into easily implemented, usable strategies.
• Technical assistance on progress monitoring must transfer knowledge in ways that accommodate differences in background, training, and beliefs, as well as differences in the nature and philosophy of the instructional programs and practices already in place.
• This information dissemination must take place in a variety of formats, in usable forms, and at different levels of specificity.

Are there other names for progress monitoring?

Progress monitoring is a relatively new term. Some other terms you may be more familiar with are Curriculum-Based Measurement and Curriculum-Based Assessment. Whatever method you decide to use, it is most important that you ensure it is a scientifically based practice that is supported by significant research.

So here is the good news. School just wrapped up and his reading score increased to 79%. His team was so proud of his progress. Like a national football team, they took ownership and credit for his achievement. The heart finally got to sing with pride as the school reading coach spoke one word, “Phenomenal!”

If this warrior mommy can do it – so can you! I give complete credit to the school based team. All I did was coach the process and relish the touchdown moment as we sat in a huddle reflecting on the results of Progress Monitoring.

Related: [SPECIAL BEHAVIOR ISSUE]

Helpful Articles

• Proven Strategies for Supporting Your Child’s Behavior
• Monitoring Progress
• IS IT WORKING? Monitoring the Effectiveness of Treatments
• IEP Prep: Using the Mama Bear Strategy
• Notes from the Mama Bear Diary: A Tale of Summer Inclusion

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This post originally appeared on our July/August 2012 Magazine