So last week was testing mayhem, I mean Quarterly Based Assessments. Yes, because teachers need the governor to tell us how to assess and grade our students. We were just hanging around, shooting the breeze for 185 days a year before he enlightened us...
But read this first...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alfie-kohn/why-the-best-teachers-don_b_6077466.html
So I did not give written tests. I had my students do a project. I make sure I always explain why I am doing something when it is not traditional. I told my students that I believe many of them know the mechanics of what I have taught the year so far and having them apply it in the classroom will show me more than having them regurgitate memorized factoids that they will soon forget. The relief on their faces - as well as the nods of agreement - told me it was the right way.
So they did not blow this off like some in Trenton might think. They worked diligently. They worried about being able to get it done. They tried to get me to help them. However, I used guided questioning to get them to problem solve on their own. And it worked. Very well. Kids were showing their peers their "bangin'" prints. They were proud of the work they produced. And I know that the next time they get a horrible print, I can say "Come on... I know you know how to do this. Slow down, take a breath, and think about the process."
As a co-worker demonstrated this week with her costume, life is giving teachers lemons, and we are making lemonade...
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