"You must have a purpose in your program that is bigger than winning" - John Wooden
This quote by legendary coach, John Wooden, has me thinking. We are about to embark on what I call testing season. Our faculty meetings have been required training for administering the test and watching videos of procedures. Students have taken practice tests, and teachers have read required manuals.
Although there has been very little talk about the testing season in classrooms and hallways, there is a feeling in the air. We sense it lingering.
I am one who believes that if I teach my students how to write effectively and read critically, then I have done my job. (Or at least part of it because there is much more to it.) I don't do test prep, and I really don't stress over it.
Wooden's words will be in my mind as we navigate through these last eight weeks of school because I know I have a purpose in my classroom that is bigger than test scores.
I love this! As we head into "testing season" I'm going to spend some time writing down the purpose in my classroom that is bigger than test scores so that I can look at it frequently and remind myself of that purpose. I can get so down during testing season because I'm pulled away from my intervention groups for up to 2 weeks just to administer and read the test to kids. I'm glad kids can get the support, it's just a frustrating season of the school year. Thanks for this post.
ReplyDeleteI have already gone through a large part of testing season- mine started early, as we began WIDA ACCESS in January. Then came IRead and now ILearn looms. It takes nearly all the second semester! It’s hard not to stress over it- my stress is making sure to follow all the million different directions for administering it.
ReplyDeleteI so agree with you! Good teaching is good teaching! I think test prep is a waste of valuable teaching time.
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