AT 6:30 THE NEXT MORNING, MS. TODD IS RIDING TO WORK WITH VETERAN TEACHER DEBBIE STARNES.

Debbie Starnes: …two students of mine, it was like they were in another world in my classroom.

NEITHER PRINCIPAL JACKSON NOR LEAD TEACHER ROSEMARY WOLFE HAS SPENT MUCH TIME IN MS. TODD’S CLASSROOM, SO SHE LEANS ON HER CARPOOL BUDDY FOR ADVICE.

Ms. Todd: You know, I’ve never been trained. Don’t, I mean, it’s just, they keep telling, Jill, do this bare bones sentence, but I don’t know how.

BUT ONCE SHE SETS FOOT IN THE CLASSROOM, MS. TODD IS ON HER OWN, WITH ONLY MAKESHIFT MATERIALS TO WORK WITH. ONE GOAL OF THE BARKSDALE GRANT IS TO FILL UP THE BARREN CLASSROOMS.

Ms. Todd: Make a Q and a U and then we would say…

Kids: /kw/

MS. TODD WILL GET $5,000 FOR TEACHING MATERIALS AND CHILDREN’S BOOKS, WHICH SHE DESPERATELY NEEDS.

Ms. Todd: Hopefully, October or November, we’ll start getting all the supplies in that we will need, and we’re going to get some take-home books for the children to actually take home and read.

IN MANY OF THOSE HOMES, PRINT IS SCARCE.

Reggie: They don't get magazine subscriptions coming to their homes. They don't purchase newspapers. They don't get mail because they don't have bills. It's, it’s just a situation that, that, that shouldn't exist today. It just shouldn't.

WITH KIDS WHO READ SO LITTLE AT HOME, TEACHERS HAVE TO WORK EVEN HARDER. AND MS. TODD’S LIFE IS ABOUT TO GET MORE COMPLICATED.

Ms. Todd: I’m pregnant and expecting, I guess, is what you say. But it will be expecting in May. … I don't want the children to lose because I'm pregnant because, you know, that's not their fault … but I do think it makes me very grouchy, and I think I'm real moody, and I wouldn't be probably as grouchy or ugly with the children if I wasn't pregnant. I just sometimes lose control.

Act 3 It’s About the Kids

Walton Elementary Fort Worth, Texas December

Boy: Will you please stand up for the pledge?

Group: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of…

BY DECEMBER, TAVARES’S CLASSMATES IN FORT WORTH HAVE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS.

Kadejah: The menu for today is tuna salad on a bun, potato puffs, steamed broccoli, apple…

KADEJAH IS NEAR THE TOP OF THE CLASS. BUT NEARLY ALL THE KIDS ARE GAINING FLUENCY.

Boy in white: The man in the store said it is a fine day.

TAVARES, THOUGH, IS STRUGGLING.

Ms. Jackson: Sound it out. Get ready.

Tavares: s…aaaa…

Ms. Jackson: Again. Come on. Sound it out. Get ready.

Tavares: s…aaaa…ss..

Ms. Jackson: My turn. Listen.

Ms. Jackson: Tavares’ progress as far as reading ... it’s still kinda low, low. He’s learning. He’s progressing at the level where he is now and it’s not first grade level as yet.

Ms. Jackson: Ms. Morgan and I had, have talked about it and we really need to talk with his Dad to let him know where Tavares stand right now. And right now, he might have to repeat first grade.

Ms. Morgan: His father is raising him alone. I know that. I asked him yesterday. And he said his mother is not there. So his father is trying to raise a little boy, and a set of twins, twin girls, on his own… I have scheduled parent conferences with his father. Every time I schedule a conference, his father says, ‘I’ll be here tomorrow.’ And tomorrow never comes. (laughs)

© 2003 WETA/Reading Rockets. All rights reserved.
This Web site was produced for PBS by WETA's Reading Rockets project, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs.
PBS Privacy Policy

Photo Credit for Bearden Elementary: Maude Schuyler Clay
Photo Credit for Walton Elementary: Chris Hamilton