Toss the Testing Negativity

Toss the Testing Negativity

This year let's make a challenge to our teacher friends and students.  We will toss any negative talk about the TEST.  Here is what I have learned recently about this issue.   Life has tests.  We are all worried if we are good enough or not. But there is no reason to let that pull us down. I believe confidence is what will help us more than anything.  Our students look up to us and if we believe in them, their confidence will grow.

I heard a teacher speak last week at a Writing Conference about how she addressed this in her class. Think about this scenario, if you are on an airplane waiting to take off, and the stewardess comes by like 10 times to check that you have put on a seat belt, because, "OMG we might have to test it"  We might need that. Please put on your seatbelt, it is the hardest ever this year.  Holy Cow another seatbelt rule.  Just keep practicing because that Seatbelt is so important you must use it.   It is so scary and hard that everyone must pass it, so please just put on that seat belt. Enter EXTREME EYE ROLL here:  The Pilot (TEA) says we must do this so just do the best ya can?   The more they talk about the plane's safety the more unsafe we all feel. Would you want to be on this plane? Do you feel confident that you will successfully make it to your destination? 

This is what we are doing to students.  STOP.  Just Stop talking.  If testing is something you just can't understand. STOP talking about it.  

I know that every job has some kind of accountability, I want someone other than me to know I am doing my job and I am doing it to the best of my ability at this point.  I want someone to check.  I want to show off the great growth my students are doing in my class.  So I want a test. I want a challenge.  I want to know if my students are ready or if I have totally missed my goal.

This means, Yes I want to check to see if my students learned what I taught with a quick pop quiz or exit ticket.

Then Yes, I want my Specialist to check my lesson plans to make sure they meet the requirements for my department, district, and the state.

Then Yes, I want my Principal to give a CBA to check to see if my campus specialist and I have found a way to help my students be successful on the skills I have taught them so far.

Then Yes, I want my Superintendent to look at those scores and feel confident in my students for his/her district's success.

Then Yes, I want my STATE to send a test to make sure I am doing the best job ever for these students because they deserve it. 

Did you go to school to waste time?  Did you sleep in class?  Do you hope to do nothing or make no difference?  If so you should not become a teacher.  Because teachers change the world and you have a great opportunity this year.  Not to be the BEST, but to be better than you were yesterday. 

SO this year, I will say: I am thrilled for this opportunity to show you how great my students are because I promise to do my best each day to be better than I was yesterday, for them. So Bring on the test, my students will be prepared or I need to find a different job.