Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Testing Let Down

In my last post I mentioned how excited Sabina has been about her standardized testing. She couldn't wait for it to start. I think she probably felt this way because it was something that she had never had the opportunity to do before and seemed like a "grown up" thing to do. After all, the kindergarteners and first graders don't test. As a teacher I hold a MUCH different opinion on the standardized testing. I was very careful though to not share my negative feelings toward testing with her. I want her to be able to make her own opinions and not be influenced by me or anyone else.

Yesterday was her first day of testing. When I picked her up from school I asked her how the first day of testing went. The excitement was gone. She picked up her book, started to read away and mumbled "ok." I probed some more and she said "fine." I tried again for more details. Finally, she put her book down and said "It was really boring mom and super easy. How many more days do I have to do it?" I empathetically explained that she should be done by the end of the week and can get back to the "regular" stuff that she enjoys doing at school. She then went right back to her book and I couldn't help but smile. That girl is no dummy.

The testing thrill is gone!

4 comments:

Xolo said...

I hate tests too!

That's why I seldom give them in my classes.

jennifer said...

sabi is lucky to be on the high end of the test takers.
do they administer these standardized tests in california in spanish at all? or are they only in english?

Msabcmom said...

The test is in English only. Too bad, so sad if you don't speak, read or write in English. If you have been here less than a year, and you speak Spanish, you are given the privilege of also taking a standardized test in Spanish - the Aprenda. You don't get off the hook for the English test though.

In Sabina's case, since she goes to a Spanish immersion school and receives her instruction primarily in Spanish, she too will be taking the Spanish test. What a joy! This month they take the English set of tests and then next month they will do the Aprenda

Anonymous said...

No, she's no dummy at all! Good for her! ;-)

Paz