Entry #1 - discuss with another teacher, her philosophies about teaching literacy-

     Ms. D. stated that this year being her first year of teaching literacy, she felt conflicted between what she learned in school and what actually worked in the classroom.  The biggest factor she felt was the lack of students daily exposure at home significantly effecting their progress at school.  She stated that those students that read at home grew academically faster with the addition of best practices in school. Those that did not read or speak English at home needed more intensive interventions.  She stated that she felt unprepared in the area of finding effective resources at the level that she needed.  The amount of time it took to create an effective intervention at each students individual level also surprised her. There were weeks of depression as the students grew at a very slow rate.  She feel that though she entered the teaching field with an arsenal full of tools, there is nothing like experience with live students to help you develop what truly works.  Her passion is in literacy and the students are showing growth.  With all this there are still too many students that are not at grade level and with all her hard work, the lack of home support (which she is very limited in effecting) is a stronger influence in the students life.