With spring break now in the rear, Georgia Milestone
testing is now within reach. As of today, there are 29 official school days
left to be exact for my school district. It feels like it was just New Years! I
can’t speak for others, but I feel this school year flew by. Moreover, counting
can be a good thing being an educator. It gives me a mental edge especially
this time of year. As students are counting to the end of the year, I tell my
students that teachers count too. I also tell my students how fast the school
year goes and how they’ll be getting ready for high school before you know it.
From 180 days now down to 29 days, the light begins to get brighter at the end
of the tunnel. Although I don’t agree about a test determining a student’s
fate, the time is now for students to demonstrate their understanding of
standards taught throughout the year. Students must show that they grasped
content this school year. Additionally, I do like the Georgia Milestone
compared to the CRCT. Students can no longer guess the majority of the test if
necessary. Students must now answer selected-response, extended-response, and
constructed-response questions. They cannot leave questions blank or write IDK
and receive points towards their overall scores. Students have been hearing the
countdown to the test all year. Students will test for about three weeks with
days spreaded out each week. Once testing is over, students feel the school
year is over. Although the school year is really within reach after testing, I
stress to students that the year is not over. While tests are being scored to
determine students’ promotion status for high school, I go over basics and
prerequisites for high school with my students.
YES! Countdowns are important. Our front office staff has a countdown for the teachers and the EOC teachers have been doing an EOC countdown as well. I think it helps put the pressure on them to achieve NOW because the days are dwindling. Good luck to your kids!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! This time of year brings me so much anticipation for summer and the upcoming year. In the past I have worked during the summer; however, this year I will be taking class and relaxing. This school year definitely flew by and thank God, it was a smooth year. I am always great full to see the growth of my students from Fall to Spring. I agree, it's hard to push after testing; however, thankfully my school has implemented several field trips.
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