Teaching 4th grade is great! The kids are sweet, innocent, and DONE with testing. We will return to the classroom tomorrow after Spring Break! I have not seen my students in 10 days and testing starts next week! Like all school aged children, mine have been studying hard for the coming GA Milestones Testing....(wink-wink). I am so afraid that my students are back to day one of 4th grade....a clean slate! Is the timing of state testing the same for all schools? Do districts set these dates? Do schools have an option or testing window?
This year I feel more stressed because I have not been able to keep up with the pacing guide therefore I still have to teach another unit. I hope my students are not feeling the stress. I feel I have I have prepared my students for these tests. Each year as we make our way to the testing weeks, I provide as much comfort to my students and colleagues to lessen the anxiety and stress brought on by these tests. I hope all goes well for everyone this "testing season".
Good Luck!!
Hello James,
ReplyDeleteI'm teaching 8th graders which are also getting ready for GA Milestones. Test anxiety is big in 8th grade as well since this is a promotion test. I've been trying all year to make our quizzes and test environment as easy as possible so students will feel at ease and hopefully free of test anxiety when the tests arrives. I've been telling them to just use what I taught them and what they've learned instead of a huge test they must pass. I tell them to relax, do their best, and good luck!
Hey James,
ReplyDeleteI agree. I don't understand why we would have scholars come back from a week break and take a test right after spring break. Also, I believe there may be an option of when you would like to take the GA Milestone because I've spoken with other school leaders who are taking their Milestones a week after my school did. I thought that was a huge advantage.
I agree with you both, having tests directly after spring break makes absolutely no sense. We spend weeks and months fine-tuning the students' test-taking abilities only to drop the ball at the last possible moment. Students with special needs are often impacted the most in my experience, but all students suffer from getting out of their groove. I consider it similar to how the NFL makes the final teams wait weeks after the playoffs end to have the Super Bowl. I think the students (or players) would benefit greatly from completing their greatest test of the year BEFORE taking a long break.
ReplyDeleteI have always wondered why Georgia tests in April! Most importantly, keeping students engaged and invested through May can be challenging. Our district also spread out testing over 8 school days and 6th grade wasn't testing when the other grades were so everyone was fully disrupted. Have a great May!
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