p. 245 "So much time spent teaching to the tests exhausts teachers and students and makes everyone anxious. Kari Oosterveen says by the time her students took the test, they were completely worn out. The following year she concentrated on excellent teaching of writing, and the scores soared. Afterward, we went right back to what we had been working on, and we continued to move forward."
That's exactly the reason we took state assessments before spring break. Everyone was anxious even though I felt I've concentrated more this year on excellent teaching of math and reading. We're heading right back to what we had been working on, and we'll continue to move forward.
p. 247 "Help your students visualize the reader/scorer. Picture the reader of your writing. Her name is....and she's exhausted. She has been reading writing samples now for six hours......"
Hey, 5th grade teachers, here's a picture for your kids. Talk about making their writing interesting!!!!
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5 comments:
Jera, I loved the visual of the grader also. This is one idea I will be sure to use in the future.
Picturing the reader/score is a valuable audience to give our students. I want to remember that teaching tool.
Jera,
I also thought it was a great idea to have a name as well as a face when the students are writing for the state assessments.
I agree with you on moving forward. Taking a test should not be our main focus of instruction. If only we were all brave enough to say "this is what we are working on, let's stop and check our knowledge, and move on." it would be so much less stressful.
Wouldn't that make a good descriptive writing experience - name and describe a person who scores writing assessments?
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