a thought

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a thought
By jl, fourth grade,

Leslie,

Don't be too disappointed! I find that all too often my students learn for the moment--long enough to do the homework, succeed in classroom activities, quizzes, and tests. Try to give a review question on a math
concept taught in January and they draw a blank!!!! Maybe you should break the tests into parts if you still have time. Look at the math test and review certain skills, then test the students on those skills as they appear on the cumulative test. The next day, quickly review a few more skills and then have students complete the corresponding numbers from the cumulative test. This way, the

quick review may refresh their memories and they will meet more success. As for the cumulative reading test, what type of test did you give? If you use a reading series, did it come from that series so that it matches the skills you taught this year or do you teach using novels and themes, and then did you try to give a more "skills-based" test from a "testing company"--if so, the results are often vastly different from what your students show all year. Try designing a new assessment more closely matched to what you taught, HOW you taught it, and HOW you assessed it initially during the year. Finally, consider the age group of your students and the time of year, other factors like the weather that day, an upcoming fieldtrip, etc. Don't lose heart. Kids are kids and sometimes they don't show what they have learned on a formal cumulative assessment. If you know and have observed growth in all areas for your students, then consider a different cumulative assessment for them and don't worry about this one! Enjoy the rest of the year!