I know...I haven't made a single post all week. Being a teacher, this time of year can be hectic. We are officially in the throws of testing season. Luckily for me, the majority of the testing for my students is completed and they did exceptionally well. I like to think that this is because I am an outstanding teacher but I know that standardized testing is really just a game that anyone can excel at. You see, the secret to students doing well at any state-made test is simple: memorization of vocabulary. It is sad, but this is all we expect of our kids. Understanding of larger, more important, concepts and hands-on skills has become a secondary characteristic of the top-notch student. What seems to matter to those who set policy in place is not what you can do or how well you understand the larger implications of the material but can you identify the correct answer from a selection of four possible choices in a multiple choice test. The future of both the student taking the exam and the educator who originally taught them the material is at stake. I could rant on and on about the problems with such high-stake testing, but I am sure you can find plenty of people who are complaining about it elsewhere on the Internet. On the other end of things, the nearing end of testing means that everyone can soon receive much needed regeneration and relaxation with the upcoming summer break.
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