Phew. Math test done. Now on to the waiting game to find out if the students actually made improvements. Our goal was to see improvements in all of our students' scores. The test contained questions that were all covered from the beginning of the school year to now... It seemed that the test was pretty straight forward, and even almost easy. I was trying to compare it to the test my students from last year took (in another state). I can't exactly remember what the test was like last year... probably because I've got NY tests and standards in my head.
I'm curious to see what happens now. I've heard rumors that after the math test, the students Lose it... School becomes pointless and all learning (or the learning there was before) is gone out the window. Nothing motivates the kids and keeps them moving forward. Of course, I don't see mass chaos breaking out in our classroom. We do have a few field trips to hold over their sweet little brains. Talking of which, field trips will be my key phrase whenever I need a reminder of something happy, something to keep me moving forward... when other staff members are exceptionally disrespectful or one of my particular favorites pushes me to the point of wishing there weren't bars over my classroom windows... Sometimes I wonder what kind of working environment I've plopped myself into. I definitely close my door as often as possible and focus as much attention as possible on my children. I remind myself that they are my purpose, no matter how much the rest of the "school world" drags me down.
It is interesting though... heading back into teaching, not even sure when it is that I got away from what I consider teaching (a normal day of hitting all subjects and not focusing on only one -- recently being math because of the math test... before was reading... before that was social studies... before that... I taught in a school where there was a focus on all subjects ALL the time...) I will be re-focusing myself this weekend, curious at the changes that will take place in the classroom without a huge push on any one specific subject. We will be working with our students as readers, as they are definitely FAR behind. We will also begin preparing our students with post-March standards and for the transition to next year's math.
Hope all of you 3rd and 5th grade teachers are basking in the joy of being done with Math tests... and good luck to 4th who have another day of tests and the other grades that come later this year... Happy Friday to all! O and doesn't time change this weekend?
1 comments:
One thing it took me a few years to learn was to accept, as you seem to be ready to do, that you can only control what happens in your own classroom (and that should be the only thing you worry about). If you treat the days after the test like just another day, like nothing has changed, it will set the tone for your students.
Nevertheless, your students will see how students in other classes are goofing around, and you'll have to figure out new and exciting ways to motivate them. The upside is that since some of the testing pressure is gone, you can afford to be more creative and engage your kids in ways you've probably had to downplay or avoid in the name of test prep.
Good luck!
PS: Yes, it's 1 hour forward this Sunday!
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