Stand. testing

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Home : 2003 : February : 20

Stand. testing
By Gigi

The pressure we put on our littlest learners is so foolish and shameful -- all in the name of making someone accountable.

Anyway ... I've cultivated my kids all year to think of tests as fun ways to test your wits, and
they actually love to have tests. Is there a way you could "convince them" that it will be fun?
As for preparing in a concrete way for success on the test content, I guess I don't have any good, real suggestions. Familiarize yourself with the test format and have a morning do-now 2 or 3 times a week with a few items that mimic the tasks and phrasing found on the test they will take.
A

few strategy tips may also be in order, such as "Read ALL the choices before choosing one." Keeping track of the question number they're reading in the book vs. the question number they're bubbling in on the scan sheet -- that's another challenge for our kids, and perhaps you or some other clever teacher out there can devise a fun way to teach that kind of coordination. One thing my kids really respond to is when I tell them I doubt the people who wrote the test will be able to "trick" them -- they like to think someone is trying to trick them, and it makes them keep their wits a little sharper and induces them to follow the strategies we've practiced.

I think the gist of what I tell them, in sum, is that some people wrote a test that they have to take. These people are going to see if they can trick the kids, so they need to do their best. BUT also I tell them to remember that they're my best and smartest kids, and no test can change the greatness I see in them every day.

And then the violins swell behind me and Bette Midler starts belting "Wind Beneath My Wings" out of nowhere.

But seriously: I got so fed up with all the tests the district was mandating for my first graders -- FOUR MIDTERM EXAMS (lit, math, sci, soc st) for 6-year-olds -- that I actually started apologizing to them and giving them treats or extra playtime so they could have a few minutes where they were just kids instead of robotic agents of accountability.

Apologies for ranting and rambling.