SOLC #19 What Standardized Testing Doesn't Measure

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.  

Many slices have been written about standardized testing during this challenge.  I am sure I do not have anything new to add.  But this one is personal. This one comes from a mother's heart, not a teacher's.  

Let me introduce you to a student.  She took six standardized tests from 3rd through 8th grades.  She passed them all, but scored a Pass+ only one time.

In high school she took a standardized test in order to graduate.  She passed, but again, just average scores. She also took the SAT twice. Her scores were not high enough to qualify for several of the "big" scholarships.

What do these scores tell you about this student?  Maybe she is about average?

Let me tell you a little more about this student that you won't see when looking at her standardized test score.

In middle school, she had a 3.9 GPA.  That would be two A-s in three years.  In high school, she had a 4.0, which included dual credit classes and AP classes, and she was valedictorian of her class.  In college she had a 3.9.  That would be a total of four A-'s in 11 years of school.  The test didn't measure that.

She was a two sport athlete and was honored with many mental attitude and character awards.  The test didn't measure that.

She received a DAR citizenship award in 8th grade and as a senior, which was voted on by her peers and her teachers.  The test didn't measure that.

She is a hard worker who has an impeccable work ethic.  The test didn't measure that.

She had a goal, and she worked her tail off day in and day out to reach it. I was there when she stayed up late into the night studying for a test, or a writing paper, or finishing a project until it was perfect.  The test didn't measure that.

You see, this student is my daughter.

And she is going to be a teacher.  

She will be a passionate teacher who cares about her students.  She will be a teacher who will continue to reflect and to grow.  She will be a teacher who will put in extra time to make her lessons and learning environment perfect.  She will also be a coach who will teach her players life lessons on and off the court.

And once again, she will be faced with a test that doesn't measure that.

And did I mention this was my daughter?

SOLC #18 Hello There, Again

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.

This is another one of those days where slicing was not on my must-do list.  I worked most of the day on a presentation that I am giving Thursday to a group of student teachers.  So, I am going back to a slice I used last year.  

i am a 6th grade ELA teacher, a mom to two young adults, a wife

i keep way too many emails on my computer

i wish i could motivate all of my students to become readers (the topic of my presentation)

i love to read heart fiction or any book that makes me cry

i dance ~ NOT

i sing only when people can't hear me

i think moving to the middle school was one of the best decisions I have made this year

i really must work on exercising more

i need to clean my house

i should go to the doctor and get a shot for my heel pain

i can complete this challenge!

i like to write poetry, but I am not very good at it

i make a good euchre partner

i always watch The Voice on Monday and Tuesday nights

It is nice to have another go-to post from last year.  If you get stuck in the last few days of the challenge, feel free to use this idea.  

SOLC #17 The Rumor

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.

It did not take long
To spread through town
Rumors do that you know

One person starts
and the next thing you know

People were talking
People were texting
People were tweeting
People were Facebooking

Was it true?
Could it really be?





That Walmart got 500 new carts!

It doesn't take much to get a small town excited!

SOLC #16 Today

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.  

Last year during the challenge when I had a loss of words or was pressed for time, I relied on others in this community for inspiration.  Michelle at Literacy Learning Zone uses this format as a go-to.  Today I not only share this format, I also use it as my slice.

today ~ taking it easy and enjoying some time to get caught up

want to be ~ reading any book in my TBR stack

blessings ~ both my children will be graduating in less than two months

thinking ~ I need to do more commenting now that I have a "slow-it-down" week

planning ~ a presentation, Motivating Readers, for student teachers and which biographies to use for my unit on perseverance

writing ~  an essay on perseverance to use as a mentor text for my 6th graders and of course slices

loving ~ the 70 degree weather on my first day of spring break and the slower pace of my next five days

grateful ~ my husband has saved all his life for a rainy day because rainy days do come

and today (again) ~ catching and celebrating little moments 

SOLC #15 First Weekend of Spring Break

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.

As I sit here waiting for the sun to mark a period on my first weekend of spring break, I am taking advantage of the warm temperatures and spending a few minutes outside on my back porch.  I have spent most of the weekend inside a gym watching a basketball tournament.  As much as I love watching my niece and students play and my daughter and sister coach, I have missed out on a beautiful afternoon.

I am contemplating my to-do list for my week, identifying which items belong in the must-do, want-to-do, and should-do list.  There are plenty for each one, and I know my week will run out long before my list.

Tonight, I add this to my want-to-do list.  I have two boxes of books I want to read before I hand them over to my students.  This is just a short stack that I pulled out for this slice.  

My slice is written, and now I have time to finish watching this beautiful sunset.

SOLC #14 Celebrate Turn #7

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.  

My slice today is serving double duty because I am also celebrating with Ruth Ayres.

Today I am celebrating simple celebrations from last week.

First round of testing complete

Warmer weather

Pizza with my sister

Spring break

New books

Pre-parent/teacher conference milkshakes

And aides who go and get them!

Cleared off desk

Movie day post test celebration

Colleagues who make me laugh

I hope you have a great week and find many simple things to celebrate along the way.

SOLC #13 Edama-what?

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.

Today at lunch I tried something new to eat.  I am not very adventurous when it comes to new foods, and ctually I could be called a picky eater.

A colleague brought edamame.  I had seen this word before but I can honestly say I really had no idea what it was nor had I ever eaten it.  I watched her suck something out of what looked like pea pods.  When I asked what it was she told me, edamame. Well, I had no idea how to pronounce this food either.  But I tried it, and it wasn't too bad.

I learned that it was actually soy beans, a legume.  After googling it, I have learned much about this new food.  

Edamame is packed with fiber.  It has 9 grams which is equivalent to 4 pieces of whole wheat toast or 4 cups of steamed broccoli.  It has almost as much protein as it does carbohydrates.  Soy has many health benefits which include reducing cholesterol and protects against heart disease and osteoporosis.  

Eating edamame takes a lot of work because you don't eat the pods.  You place the pods in your mouth and squeeze or bite the beans out.  I can't say that edamame will become a regular food at my dinner table, but I am glad that I was adventurous today and tried something new.

SOLC #12 What A Difference A Week Makes

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.  

Yesterday my husband took advantage of the warmer temperatures and wore shorts while he walked.  When he returned home, he mentioned how different his walk was last Wednesday.  

"What a difference a week makes,"  he said.

I immediately jumped up, and he asked, "Where are you going?"

"You just gave me my slice for tomorrow!"

Last Wednesday ~

early dismissal

-2 degrees

coat and gloves

ice covered trees

hoping no snow day

This Wednesday ~

fog delay

above 60 degrees

just a jacket

green sprouts

awaiting spring break

What a difference a week makes!

SOLC #11 It's All A Matter of Time

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.  

Last night was the first night of this challenge that I did not have a post written and ready to go.  But I was tired and went to bed.

This morning we have a fog delay.  After I received the phone call, my immediate thought was, "Oh, good.  I have some extra time to write a slice."  Here I am sitting at my desk at school and thinking about the word time.  It seems like we either never have enough or have too much.  Sometimes it goes too slow and other times it goes too fast.  

The past three weeks time has created havoc in my life, which is why I am tired and did not have a slice for today.

A few weeks ago, we knew our state testing was coming up.  Then, we learned about the number of hours our new test was going to take.  This was much different than the past tests, but we had our schedule made and were ready to go.

Because of the extensive time, the state decided to extend our testing window, or the amount of time available to administer the test.  We changed our schedule again.

Because of the many protests against the increase in the amount of time our students would spend testing, the state decided to decrease the number of hours of the test.  This resulted in another schedule change.  

A new schedule was made and now enter snow days into the mix.  We had three snow days and a  2-hour delay which again created changes in our schedule.  

This week in the middle of our testing, Daylight Savings Time enters the picture.  From all the slices I have read about this topic, you already know what DST does to a person's sense of time.

Yesterday our testing ended. I went home, took a breath, and didn't write.  I was tired, and I didn't have a slice.

Our schedule this week is not typical either.  Today is Wednesday, and we have two early dismissal days and we are counting down the days to spring break which is next week.  

This one little word ~ time ~ is the reason why I am exhausted, and the reason why I have a slice today.  Thank you 2-hour fog delay!

The current view outside my window at school.

SOLC #10 When A Comment Leads to Revision

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.  

"As a writing teacher, one of the most important things you can do is practice, practice, practice your own writing. Every time you sit down to write you are gaining insider knowledge about what writers do–so that you can share that knowledge with the kids you teach."

Little did I know when I read Beth's post yesterday on Two Writing Teachers about using our own writing as a teaching tool, I would be putting it to use so soon.  

I had scheduled my post to publish at 6:00 am yesterday morning, but did not get a chance to link to TWT until later on in the day.  Before I linked, Michelle from the Literacy Learning Zone had already read it and posted a comment.  

The way she read my slice and the message I wanted to convey were not the same. She left a comment, and I realized that my writing was unclear.

The revision process began.

I started asking myself questions about my intended message and where the message broke down.  Where was I not clear and concise?  Where did the confusion lie?  What revisions did I need make?

I started with the title and then made some other changes.  I asked her to come back and read it again.  You can read our "comment conversation" here.

I know revision is a key issue for my student writers.  Many don't want to do it; many don't like to do it; and many don't see the need to do it.  But my post needed revising in order for my readers to understand what I wanted to say.  

This is an authentic lesson in which I can share with my students ~ which is exactly what Beth was talking about.

SOLC #9 One Benefit of Reading Widely

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.

Throughout the year we do formative assessments and writing activities which are similar to our standardized test in the spring.  There is a plethora of these available online which makes it much easier for teachers to find resources.

A common writing activity is to continue writing a story.  For example, for one of the activities, students had to read an excerpt from a novel, and continue writing the story of the characters going down the river.

That was a pretty simple task as most students have background knowledge of being in some type of water or playing with some type of water vessel.  Sounds easy enough.

Another practice activity we completed was a historical fiction piece.  Students had to read a passage about a specific time in history and continue the story. If a student had no background knowledge about this time period, then this one wasn't quite so easy.

After the students were finished, I asked them what they thought about it.

Student:  "It was hard."

Me:  "Why was this one so hard?"

Student:  "Because I didn't know what they were talking about."

Student:  "I couldn't think of anything to write about."

Me:  "This was historical fiction.  So you are saying you had no background knowledge of this time period in which to draw upon or to give you an idea for your writing?"

Student:  "Yeah, I don't read those kinds of books."

Me:  "How many of you think you would have done better had you read at least one book set during this time period?"

Almost every hand went up.  

Me:  "This goes to show you that there is more to reading than the Diary of A Wimpy Kid books.  This is one of the many reasons why you need to read widely and to read many different genres.  Because you never know what you might find on that test."

End of the discussion.

Lesson learned.

Teacher smiling.

Bloggers note:  After reading Michelle's comment, I feel a need to clarify something.  I do not believe that students should read widely for a test.  That was not my intention for writing this post.  When a person reads widely, they have more knowledge on different subjects and genres.  This incident was just one of the many benefits of reading widely that came up in my classroom.  

SOLC #8 Wondering Wrap-up

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.  

I decided to wrap up my week with a list of wonderings.  None of these are worthy of Wonderopolis, but they left me pondering.

I wonder how birds communicate.  (OK this one may be worthy)  How did they know my husband tore up little pieces of a leftover pancake and placed them on our porch?  I mean, does one bird see it and go tell the others? 

I wonder how weather forecasters can screw up time and time again and still keep their jobs.  I mean, what would happen if I did that?

I wonder how neighbors can keep their dogs outside for long periods of time barking at EVERYTHING.  I mean, can't they hear that?

I wonder why parents yell at and humiliate their kids when they make a mistake on the basketball court.  I mean, don't they realize they are in our feeder program, not the WNBA?  

I wonder why my husband thinks he needed to take a walk when schools were let out early because of the weather?  I mean, he even bothered to call and say, "I bet you don't go to school tomorrow.  These streets are treacherous."

I wonder why my son decided to wait until the last day of the grading period to ask his teacher about his missing assignments.  I mean, doesn't he remember he is a teacher's son?  AND doesn't he remember he graduates high school nine weeks?

Did this week leave you with any wonderings?

SOLC #7 - Snow Day Surprise and Celebrate Turn #6

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.  

My slice today is serving double duty because I am also celebrating with Ruth Ayres.

Thursday we had another snow day.  By mid afternoon the streets were pretty clear so I decided to venture out, go to school, and get some work done.  

As I was sitting in my room, I received a text message from another teacher who lives across the field from the school.  If I look out my window, I can see his house.

The text said, Emma, his daughter and a former 4th grade student of mine, left you a surprise.  Look out your window.

I opened the blinds and this is what I saw.

I replied, "Tell her thank you and that SHE is an angel."

Celebrating a snow day surprise!

SOLC #6 Spectacles

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.

Every Thursday Laura Purdie Salas hosts 15 Words or Less Poems.  If you are looking for a slice idea on a Thursday, you might check out her blog and give it a try.  Below are the guidelines from her blog.

"Look at the picture, brainstorm three things the pictures makes you think of or reminds you of, and write a quick poem of 15 words or less (not counting the title). It does not have to describe the picture. It does not have to rhyme. Most importantly, it does not have to be “good.” Don’t put pressure or expectations on yourself. This is just a creative exercise!"

Here is this week's picture prompt, my poem, and the story behind my inspiration.

Spectacles

Perched upon my head

like a bird guarding her nest

Waiting to see the world

I have been wearing reading glasses for several years, and I cannot see a thing close up without them.  The first year I had the glasses I would lose them constantly at school because I would set them down and not remember where they were.  The next few years, I was still able to see with my older glasses, so I kept several pairs of glasses at school.  This allowed me to have a pair in the back of the room and in the front of the room.  

But this was still frustrating, because I was still asking, "Has anyone seen my glasses?"  Or I would be searching for something and the kids would say, "Are you looking for your glasses again Mrs. Eck?"

Then I got smart.  I bought frames that were sturdier, and I was able to keep them on my head...and that is where they stay.  I wake up and put the glasses on my head.  I take the glasses off and go to bed.  They are always perched upon my head. 

Last year during the first week of school, we had the students draw a picture of the teachers for a get-to-know-you activity.  I taught 4th grade then, and one of my students drew the glasses on my head.  (She even drew my dimples - those green things on my cheeks!)  She knew me better than she thought she did!

SOLC #5 The Power of Teenage Friendships

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.

Yesterday I wrote about the notes I had saved from high school.  Today, I introduce you to the authors of those notes.

When I was growing up, our town had six elementary schools which fed into one junior high school.  It was during those junior high years when friendships started to change.  It was a scary time because we could easily fall in with the "wrong crowd." My group evolved throughout the next several years, some friends leaving and new ones joining.  The summer between my freshman and sophomore years, I found my group and the eight of us have been friends since.  

We call ourselves The Eight Jelly Donuts, also known as the EJD's.  Our name came from mischievous pranks we did with jelly donuts, but that is another slice.

Junior/Senior Basketball game - I am the third from the top.

We graduated from high school in 1982, and our lives took different paths. Some of us went away to college, while others shared those college years in our hometown.  Some married and started families.  Some moved away to different points across the country - California, Texas, Virginia, Illinois, while others stayed in Indiana. One (me!) even married another one's brother!

Our Senior Prom - I am the third from the right.
And I have no idea why we have our
garters below our knees.

Then...

life happened, and time between gatherings stretched out, just like the miles which separated the eight of us.  We went through a period of time where some of us lost contact with each other.

The year 2000 was approaching, and we decided to celebrate the millennium together that summer.  Seven of us reunited for the first time in close to 15 years.  That weekend was like a two day slumber party - you know, the kind where slumber isn't even thought about.  We had years worth of catching up and lots of reminiscing to do.  Our time together felt like time had stood still, and we were back in our bedrooms, basements, family rooms, and cars sharing secrets and laughing until our stomachs hurt and tears streamed down our faces.  And of course there were jelly donuts!

The EJD's celebrating together 50 years of life.

The last time all of us were together was the fall of 2013 to celebrate the year we turned 50. We went back to all of our teenage hangouts and took pictures like this one in front of the doors of our high school.

There are times when I wonder if we would have become friends had we met for the first time as adults.  I don't think so.  We are different now than who we were as kids, but that is the power of teenage friendship.  I have had many friends throughout my life, but none like the ones I had when I was 13.  Once those friends are in your heart, they have a forever place.

Those are my EJD's.

And that's the power of teenage friendships. 

As teenagers we shared
first loves and heartbreaks, coming of age and becoming young women.

As adults we have shared
weddings and divorces, childbirth and infertility, life and death.

And through it all we have shared
love, laughter and friendship.

To my EJD'S - I know you are reading this, and I want you to remember...

SOLC #4 Social Media ~ 80's Style

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.  

Today, kids are inundated with the pressures of growing up with social media.  They have texting, email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.  With the click of a button, they give the entire world access to 

their words, 

their thoughts,

their pictures,      

their life,

and they have access to the entire world.

Flashback 35 years ago...

A bag of notes from my high school years.  

Back in the 80's we had social media too.

We had notes.  With the meticulous folding, creasing, and tucking of notebook paper, our friends had access to 

our words,

our thoughts,

our pictures,

our life,

and we had access to our own little world.

 the only world that mattered
when we were teenagers.

Here is our text talk - we would use the first letter of a word
to write messages and see if our friends could decode them.

Unlike today's kids, we didn't have to worry about our notes being exploited in the hands of the world ~ only the hands of our teachers or the person who we were writing about...and we were usually writing about someone.

I am still friends with the seven authors of these notes, and that is tomorrow's slice.

SOLC #3 Cool Kids

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.  

The other day I got into my son's Blazer and of course his radio was not on the station I listen to, and the volume was much louder than what I prefer.  I turned it down a bit, but continued listening to the song.  The song kept repeating the same line over and over.  

"I wish that I could be like the cool kids,

Cause all the cool kids, they seem to fit in."

I stopped and thought, "Did they just say what I think they said?"

Being a middle school teacher, I just shook my head.  Everyday I see kids who want to be like the cool kids, and yes, who want to fit in.  It is a constant struggle for many kids this age.  Fitting in is so difficult when you are still trying to understand who you really are and who you want to be.

But what makes a kid cool?  Is it being an athlete, being smart, wearing the brand name clothes, being rich, or being popular?  Who defines what is cool and what isn't?

A few days later, I decided to Google this song, hoping that the lyrics were actually something inspiring.  I found an article written on Radio.com about the four siblings who make up the group Echosmith and who sing this song.  Here is what they said:

Jamie says the message of the song is simple: the coolest thing you can be is yourself. But more often than not, fans tell the band that they relate to the kids they’re singing about. That they feel like the outsider looking in.

“This cry to be like the cool kids… it’s something that everyone kind of goes through whether you want to act like it or not,” Jamie said. “There’s always somebody out there that you kind of wish, ‘If only I could do this, or do that.’ I think that’s why it connects with people so well.”

I would agree that everyone at some time in their life wishes they could be like someone else.  I don't have a problem with that, because I do the same thing as an adult.  I read slices and want to be like that writer or want to teach like some of the teachers I see on Twitter or on blogs.  

I do have a problem with "the cool kid" part.  They say the message of the song is simple - the coolest thing is to be yourself.  That is a great message.  I may be wrong, but I don't clearly hear that message because it gets lost in the repeated refrain.  (Trust me ~ listen to it once and you will be singing the refrain.)  The message I hear is the coolest thing is to be like someone else so you can fit in.

And to me, that is sending the wrong the message.  

SOLC #2 My Daughter Doesn't Cry

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.  

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying Goodbye so hard."

-Winnie the Pooh

My daughter doesn't cry.

Megan lost three grandparents within a year and a half.   

But my daughter doesn't cry.

As an athlete, she has lost countless basketball games.

But my daughter doesn't cry.

As a college senior, she has had many "lasts."

But my daughter doesn't cry.

Megan is student teaching, and she just finished her first assignment in a special education classroom working with k-2 students.  She became very attached to her students. Last Friday Megan picked me up from school, and knowing this was her last day with these students and with Julie, her cooperating teacher, I asked,

"So how did it go?"

"Fine."

"Just fine?"

"Yes and I don't want to talk about it."

"Why?"

"Because I will start crying."

As a mom, I knew not to push,

Because my daughter doesn't cry.

SOLC #1 My Second First Day

The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers.  

It is hard to believe that another March has come around, and here I am participating in my second Slice of Life March Challenge.  Participating in the challenge last year was very intimidating.  I had doubts on whether or not I could write 31 straight days ~ but I did and I became a changed person.

I became a better writer because I wrote.

I became a better teacher because I understood the difficulties and challenges writers face.

I became a better listener because I was listened to.

I became a better commenter because I knew the power of a comment.

My world became bigger because I "met" you.

My world became brighter because your stories made me laugh.

My world became insightful because your stories made me think.

Today...

I am not afraid to write because I know words matter.

I write because writing brings about change.

I thank you for being a part of my writing world.