I love knowing that I'm not the only one who is dealing with behavior, stress over testing, and stress over not enough days to get just one more thing crammed into the students heads. I was beginning to get especially wound up about my OAKS scores because I didn't have more passing.
Then I took a step back and thought about all of the things we have covered in the book this year. You know, not once did the book say that a champion technique to improve student learning had anything to do with testing. :-) That's a relief!! So I sat down with my data and really looked at what was going on and I realized I have so much to celebrate with each and every one of my students. They have all made gains this year, some huge gains, some small. Some of the gains weren't on tests or homework but were in lessons on how to behave, be a friend, ask respectfully, trust the teacher and all those lessons that will help them be successful in life. We talked last night about how hard it is to be a teacher right now because we have to parent as well as teach. It is frustrating to have to lose time with the content because we have to teach the social skills. And yet, those are the lessons that they will remember. I have students who believe that school is a safe place and that the adults at school can be trusted. What a gift that is! So I'm going to grateful instead of frustrated. I get the privilege of being a safe harbor for a student. If they are only at school once a week then once a week I am there for them. If they never turn in a single piece of homework I will still encourage them and try to teach them responsibility. I will be consistent and kind. If they never pass a single state test I will celebrate each and every accomplishment that they do achieve. They will leave my classroom at the end of the year knowing that I believed in them. This doesn't mean I won't want to tear my hair out in frustration but it will help me keep things in perspective. :-)
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ReplyDeleteLisa,
ReplyDeleteI too found myself pondering over students who did not have adequate OAKS scores once we started our second round this year as well. It's amazing how that test can be such a huge part of our anxiety as a teacher at this time of the year.
I sat down just as you did, looking at my data and found a smile on my face as I realized the amazing gains that some of my students who may have not passed the OAKS test this year DID have! I think it's really important that we make sure we are celebrating with students who are making huge gains, even if they don't have a meeting or exceeding score. I had a student who did not meet this year and when I told her how proud I was that she had made a ten point gain in her score from last year, the concerned look of not passing she had just moments earlier faded and I saw confidence slip back into her smile. :) Like you said, keeping things in perspective! :)