UGH....Testing, Round 2

So we got our testing results in on Friday and let's just say I had some highs and some lows. Math rocked, but reading left some to be desired.  My kids worked so hard and they did out perform last year's results, but I guess I set my own reading bar high and unattainable.   Can I just say I HATE THESE FREAKING TESTS  there has to be a better way to assess kids.  The reading comprehension test consists of reading 8 passages and answering questions during a 2-3 hour testing session.  How many of us would be able to do that??????  I know I don't switch between 6 different genres in a 2 hr period of reading.

So this week we have to remediate those that didn't quite make proficiency and then retest EACH AND EVERY TEST again...UGH!!!!!

The worst part of this whole cycle, is that I have a couple kids who were 1 point from making the score they needed and they were devestated to know that even though they busted their butts, they have to do the whole thing over again.  My heart breaks for them!

So excited to get this done and over with so my kids can enjoy their last two weeks of 3rd grade.  Oh yea, in other news, I have applied for a literacy teaching position and have an interview tomorrow.  Still not completely sure if I'm ready to leave the classroom, but couldn't pass up the opportunity.  We shall see what happens :)

Hold on tight, Monday's coming fast!!!!!!

Stick a Fork in Me, I'm Done!!!!!

My kids are done with day 3 of testing and they have rocked it out each day!  I am so proud of this group.  Several students used their strategies until the very last question.

Yesterday we did have a very special visitor, Barbie and the Rockers  Rocker Haywood!!!  I went around to each class in 3-5 and did a special rock song for them and told them to rock out the test.  I even gave them the idea that if they came to a super hard question they could think of the giant skunk on my head my hair, and it would get them through it.

I am so glad to be done with Round 1 of the testing!  Now on to planning my Harry Potter unit.  I am a bit of a freak about Harry Potter.  What fun things do ya'll have planned for the last few weeks of school???

Party Like a Rock Star

Today was THE DAY, test Day!!!!!  We started our EOG testing today and let me tell you, my kids ROCKED it out in true rock star fashion.  This is the first year that most of my kiddos actually used their strategies and I think its going to pay off big.

Just before starting the test our awesome custodian, Mr. Larry, came around to pep up the kids.  How could this not make your nerves go away??????

 
Another plus of this week, I went to the "Free Store" one last time yesterday.  The final haul was pretty exciting!  I got 24 books for my classroom library, dry erase markers, notepads, Kleenex, hand sanitizer, binder clips, pencils, crayons, markers, journals, and tons more.

Hope everyone's week is off to a great start!  Tomorrow there might be a visit from a rocker to kick off testing!