I was on a high on Tuesday, envisioning my plans for next year's library program, thinking about where the books are going to go when the space gets updated, getting excited about injecting more creativity into my teaching.
And then Wednesday came, and we had standardized testing training.
Do I really need to say more?
(This may just be the shortest Slice I've ever written...but there's loads to infer. And inference is always a hot testing category, yes?)
It gets in the way of everything. Everything. EVERY. THING. Where in the midst of real life do we all stop what we are doing and take our annual standardized test, choosing A B C or D? Sometimes the shortest writing says the most. Even in the Bible - - the shortest verse: Jesus wept.
ReplyDeleteChris, I get your message loud and clear. I want to share a quick backstory. In 1995, project based learning was a hot topic and I choice intensive PD to dig deep into projects. BUT then a few years later the TESTING issue came into play. PBL got placed on the shelf so testing could become the reigning topic. I tell this story because we are now wondering how to bring joy, creativity, and wonder back into the curriculum when we were on a great journey years ago.I am delighted that you are considering how to interject creativity into your library program. Please tell me more about this when you figure out your plan.
ReplyDeleteUgh! Everything comes to a screeching halt. I could feel how quickly your elation was squashed!
ReplyDeleteThat says it all! Our school's test coordinator sent out calendar invites for small group testing sessions starting after spring break, and I'm one of the lucky small group proctors. Most boring days of teaching ever! Watching language learners and students with learning differences struggle through standardized tests is definitely not why I became a teacher.
ReplyDeleteI know there is a painful contradiction between thinking about "injecting more creativity into my teaching" and then having to participate in "standardized testing training" - ugh! No need for a lengthy post - put those feet up, unwind.
ReplyDeleteYou do not need to say more. I was mapping out my AP class for the rest of the year yesterday and discovered that my students are going to be losing 3 precious class periods--an entire week on our Block schedule--to testing and that is BEFORE they take the AP test in May! It's madness.
ReplyDeleteYou needn't say more...everything withered and died on the vine with the words "standardized testing training." -Mic drop, Chris!
ReplyDelete