(7th story) Criteria for Success

“It’s a quarter to six. I’ve got to go,” Colette rubbed her lower back.

“We’re done, right?” Nadia asked.

“We have learning goals, success criteria for reading, writing, music, art, science and gym. I think we’re done.” Rick stretched his arms overhead.

“Don’t forget your level four samples,” Sherry pointed to a table in the far corner of Colette’s classroom.

“Yay team,” Nadia sighed.

“Ill see you tomorrow.” Collette emptied the dregs of her tea into the sink and ran the water to wash them down.

“She may not even show up,” Nadia capped a red marker. “Superintendent’s get busy.”

“We’ll be ready whenever she does show up.” Sherry gathered her charts.

“Until we change units anyhow.” Rick picked up his charts.

“But we’ve done it once, so it will be easier next time,” Collette zipped up her coat. “I’ll see you tomorrow guys.”

“Have a good night,” Sherry stepped aside to let Collette pass.

“You too,” Collette swung her purse over her shoulder and walked out of the room.

“I’m heading out,” Rick picked up his coffee mug. ”I’ll come back for the rest.” He pointed his chin to the back of Colette’s grade two classroom.

Sherry followed him out the door. “Me too,” she said.

“We still have to put these things up!” Nadia called after them.

“We can do that tomorrow, after we’ve reviewed them with the kids.” Sherry called back. 

“The super isn’t coming until Wednesday,” Rick added.

“Right,” Nadia sighed. “Good.”

****************

“Just like you write good copies of your stories, this is a good copy of the chart we made yesterday.” Sherry explained to her grade two class on Tuesday morning. “Who remembers what this chart is for?” Sherry set her pointer on the ledge of the chalkboard. “Yes, Cally?”

“It reminds us what we need to do to read well.” Cally said.

“Good answer,” Sherry removed the post-it notes she had used to cover the title of the chart. “Does anybody want to add to Cally’s answer? 

“It’s so we don’t need you all the time.” Jonathan called.

“Please remember to raise your hand,” Sherry said.

Jonathan raised his hand.

“Yes, Jonathan?”

“Won’t you get bored if we go to the chart for help instead of you?”

“Thank you for your concern Jonathan, but no, I’m not really worried about that.”

*******************

Sherry surveyed her work.  The charts were straight.  It was too bad that some had to be so high up, but there was no where else to put them, and Bev Grey insisted that they all had to be posted for the Superintendent’s visit.  Collette had suggested placing them on a flip chart and then flipping to the one you want the kids to refer to. Bev Grey had said they could do that after the Super’s visit, but she wanted them all posted for the visit.  Complete waste of time.  None of the kids would look up there. It would be visual background noise. 

The bell rang and Sherry went to to the door to greet her students.

“Khadija is back!” Cally announced.  

“I see.” Sherry smiled.  “Hello Khadija.  Its nice to have you back. How was your trip?”

“Good.” 

“Khadija’s back!”  Kyle yelled.  “How long were you gone?”

“Three months.”  Khadija said.

“We still have your desk,” Kyle told her.

“Is the principal’s principal coming today?” Zack asked.

“Yes, Mrs. Khullar, the superintendent, is coming to visit today.”

“And we answer her questions even though she’s a stranger?”

“She’ll be with Mrs. Grey and Mrs Grey is not a stranger.”

The PA crackled.

“Announcements!” Noah announced.

“Thank you, Noah.” Sherry signaled for he children to rise.

***************

It was during the literacy block that Mrs. Grey and Mrs. Khullar came into the room.  Sherry was working with a guided reading group. Another group was reading along silently at the listening centre, and a second group was making a word wall word chain on strips of coloured paper, and another group was writing a list poem on chart paper The last group was placing coloured dots in a text beside text features and recording how the features help readers on chart paper.

Sherry looked up from the clipboard she was using for anecdotal notes.

“Good morning grade twos! Please keep working.” Mrs Grey announced.  “This is Mrs. Khullar.  We just want to see what you are doing.”

Sherry went back to listening to Zack read.

She glanced up to see Bev Grey walk straight to Khadija.  She knows Khadija just got back today, Sherry thought. She must be welcoming her.  She isn’t going to question her.  That wouldn’t make any sense.

“Good morning, Khadija,” Bev Gray said.  “Can you tell me what you are working on.”

“I’m writing a poem with Cally. Noah and Mohammed are writing one too.” Khadija said.

“And what do you expect to learn from this activity?”

“To write a poem.”

“What level do you think your work is at?”

Khadija shrugged.

Cally pointed to the wall.  “The...” she began to say.

“I’m speaking to Khadija.  Cally do not interrupt. Why are you doing this, Khadija?”

“Ms. Smythe said I should.  We’ll go to that centre next.” Khadija pointed to the round table.

  Bev Grey looked at her watch. “Thank you Khadija, Thank you grade twos. Thank you Ms. Smythe.  We’ll talk later.”

Breathe Sherry told herself.  Breathe.

**************

  In the staffroom at lunch time Bev Grey thanked  the teachers for their hard work and said that on the whole, the superintendent had been impressed. “Sherry, please come see me when you have finished your lunch.” she said as she left.

“What happened?” Collette asked.

“She went straight to Khadija who just got back after a three month absence. She’d know that right?”

“Oh, she’d definately know that,” Collette said.

“This is revenge for the Mrs. Blue incident last spring,” Nadia said.

“All that work,” Sherry shook her head. “And she goes for the one student who would not know what is going on.”

“You did review the criteria before the lesson, right?” Nadia asked.

“Yes, but Khadija is completely overwhelmed.  Success criteria takes practice for a seven year old to say, let alone understand. And she just got back.”

“Don’t worry. The walk through is supposed to be non-evaluative.” Kay said.

‘But all that work!” Sherry exclaimed.

“Here have some chocolate,” Nadia passed her a mini Aero bar.

****************

Sherry packed up her lunch containers and  left the staffroom.

Bev Gay’s door was ajar.

Sherry knocked.

“Come in, Sherry. Have a seat.”

Sherry sat on the coach diagonally across from the desk.

“Your classroom looks great.  You obviously put in a lot of work into the anchor charts.” Bev Grey crossed her legs and folded her hands over her knee.

“Thank you.”

“Obviously Priya and I were disappointed in the student responses.  Your  students should know what they are doing, why they are doing it and how they can be successful.”

“You know Khadija returned only today...”

“I’m sure you don’t accept excuses from your students and I don’t accept them from my staff. The walk throughs are to help me guide you into becoming a more effective practitioner. Please take this constructive criticism to heart and make sure that your students are more aware next time.” Bev Grey smiled.

Sherry straightened her back and lowered her shoulders.  She held Bev’s gaze. 

“Now, this is not evaluative, I’m sure Kay explained that to you.”

“Yes,” Sherry breathed slowly.

“Actually, the real reason I wanted to see you is to give you your class assignment for next year.” 

Sherry exhaled. 

Bev Grey recrossed her legs. “You know Mary Beth is returning from parental leave?”

Sherry inhaled. 

Bev Grey adjusted her glasses. “So this will be a perfect opportunity for you to extend your teaching experiences.  I am giving you the four/five split.”

Sherry exhaled. “I listed the primary grades on my preferences page.”

“I considered your preferences, your accreditation, which is primary/junior, and your limited experiences. Ultimately, I must consider what is best for the children.  Mary Beth is an excellent primary teacher who will help our grade twos get ready for grade three and the EQAO. The decision is mine to make as your principal.  However, it is within your rights to go to your union and file a grievance if you wish.  Thank you. You may go.” Bev Grey spun her chair back to her desk.

Sherry rose.  “Thank you Bev. I understand your role as my supervisor so much more clearly now.” She left the office.