Test Prep

Tomorrow my sixth-grade readers take their state test in reading. In Virginia, the state tests are called SOLs. (Yes, I know. It stands for Standards of Learning.) We have been preparing for tomorrow. The day before is always a tough day. The tension is palpable. I answered questions...and there were a lot of questions! I gave them a pep talk...another one and then class began. They had choices today.

1. Make positive and motivational signs for test takers. 2. Complete practice SOL questions. 3. Read. 4. Write in your notebook. 

Students were invited to do what they needed. I conferenced and checked in on their work and eavesdropped. I heard them whispering and planning their signs. I saw students reading silently and a few practicing for tomorrow with released test questions. Class was relaxed and students were productive.  

Part of my pep talk asked them, What story are you telling yourself? I wondered aloud if they are telling themselves that they are dumb or going to fail or bad? If so, I reminded them to start telling themselves a new story. Their new story is this:

I am ready. I am prepared. I am a successful and accomplished reader. I can do this!  

I reminded them that when they walk into that testing room tomorrow, they aren't alone. I'm with them...not literally, but figuratively. I told them to imagine me sitting on their shoulder...I heard some giggles. I told them to envision me sitting on the top of the computer screen...now there are guffaws and someone blurts out, "You mean, like a floating head?!?!" I smiled and agreed. I told them to imagine whatever helps them.

That's MY head in a jar saying, "You GOT this!!!"

These signs are hanging in the hall as they walk into our classroom.

Thank you to Ruth Ayres for providing this space for sharing our celebrations. Please join us and share your own!

Attitude

Preparation. Our state test is later this week and today we talked about testing. I asked the sixth graders to write down words about testing. They answered with words like SCARY, LONG, BORING, HARD. They expressed fear and worry as well as determination. We turned the conversation to attitude and I asked if attitude, their attitude, could have an effect on the test. They decided that attitude is a big part of success.

Talking to sixth graders about big ideas like attitude and anxiety...these conversations stay with me and inspire me. I'm impressed with their awareness and maturity.

We took two pieces of paper out. On the first, we wrote the word TEST. We made lists of words that we connected with testing. When we finished with our conversation, I invited the students to rip these papers and throw them away. We talked about how this symbolized the power they had over the test.

The second piece of paper is for them. I asked them to write a letter to themselves on the day of the test. I reminded them to include messages they'd want to hear before going in and attacking the test.

I love these letters. They are as varied as my students. Some of the letters are a page long with lots of details and encouragement. Some letters are funny and make me laugh. Some letters are simple and to the point. I believe in my students. I believe they are readers and writers. No matter what the numbers on the test say, I know they believe it too.  Here's one of my all time favorite excerpts...

Yes, a grade on a test doesn't show who you truly are!

Thank you to Stacey, Betsy, Dana, Tara, Beth, Anna, Kathleen & Deb for this amazing platform to write and share writing! What a wonderful community you've created! I'm honored to be part of it. Join us at Two Writing Teachers.

Celebrate!!!

Each week on Saturday 

bloggers celebrate at Ruth Ayres Writes. 

Won't you join us? 

One of my favorite parts of the week is blogging about celebrations and this week is no exception. Here are my celebrations for the week... I celebrate TWITTER! The connections that I've made on twitter have changed me and helped me become a much better teacher. I can't say it enough. This week, I reached a big number on twitter. I have 1,000 followers!!! I consider that an achievement and I'm proud. 

I celebrate my student POETS! We continue to write and revise and rehearse our poetry. Everyday I am inspired by my student poets. This week we began our state tests...in Virginia they are called the SOLs. Read this poem by Bryan about testing...

Preparing today for the standards of learning test

our teacher said you will be pressured.

We'd have to read and think during this SOL

and learn to spell stupendous, Mississippi, 

money, and POWFUNKSHAZAM

We need to remember figurative language

antonyms, synonyms, and imagery.

Recite all the types of genres

and learn to write a poem from scratch.

We'd have to speak fluently in English for poetry.

Learn how to make a great performance.

Remember all of the oldest folk tales,

and crack all the codes in the dictionary.

Then just when we thought that our heads might explode

from learning all the reading and comprehension

she told us the very best thing she could say:

that she was just kidding; this was the real English SOL.

Inspired by Kenn Nesbitt’s poem The World’s Hardest Test

I celebrate READING! Finding books that inspire me and bring out tears and laughter...I love that! This week that book was The Summer of Letting Go by Gae Polisner. It's one of those books that I drag out reading it because I don't want it to end...and it ruins me for other books. I'm having a hard time finding my next read...sigh.