NYS Testing Lemonade

I am sure that all 3-8 educators are breathing  a sigh of relief this morning. We have survived the 2 most dreaded weeks of the year, New York State Testing in ELA and Math. For the first time in many, many years of administering them, the tests are garnering attention across the state. Approximately 15% of the 1 million plus students (according to the news) scheduled to take the exams had parents who opted them out. We have been giving these exams for years. I ponder why it took until now to draw attention to anything in education. I suppose that our misguided Governor's plans to use these tests differently in the near future to evaluate teachers made it all bubble up. I only wish that the 15% of families were as motivated to speak up in the last decade as the budget crisis hit our state, eliminating programs, staff and cutting many schools to the bone for resources.

However, I keep my politics out of the classroom. I, like many informed educators and families across the state, advocate passionately through appropriate channels for change. But, in the meantime, I have a job to do. The last 2 weeks, our building executed its job with grace, class and professionalism that did not place students in the middle of the politics. There was so much to celebrate, I felt compelled to blog this morning as a positive reflection.

During the last 2 weeks....

Our middle school was blessed with the generosity of our PTSO, providing a breakfast treat and bottles of water each day.

Our Principal, Lisa Meade, prepared mini-lessons each morning that helped us all to de-stress the environment and build up students and staff. She was assisted by several teachers' contributions to the lessons, including our incredible P.E. Teacher/Coach whose contribution reminded us how important it is to get our bodies moving to activate our brains. I loved watching our students jump, squat, cheer, etc. to get day 1 of ELA testing going. They were pumped!

As adults, we ceased discussing scores, opt outs and politics. Instead, as a building, we were celebrating the work of our students. So many of us were so impressed with the efforts of our students at all grade levels EVERYDAY!!!

My greatest smiles over the last 2 weeks came from observing my students. As an 8th grade teacher in the final quarter of the year, my students are weeks away from becoming high school freshmen. This year, I am confident that our students will enjoy much success in high school. I observed them using some of the best reading and writing strategies, learned from their young, talented ELA teacher and the rest of our 8th grade teachers who instruct Common Core Curriculum. The strategies demonstrated as they tackled rigorous reading and skillful writing impressed me. They are ready for the challenges and rigor of high school.

As we ventured into week 2 of math testing, I was equally pleased. Each morning, we did warm up activities and games in homeroom while munching on breakfast treats. All of the students in my homeroom felt confident and proud of  their efforts on the math exam. They felt prepared and positive. Whatever the outcome of the tests, I tip my hat to my experienced, hard-working math colleague in team 8. Our students are heading to high school with confidence in their ability to tackle next year's Common Core Regents Exam in Integrated Algebra, a test that IS high stakes for their high school diploma. 

When our two weeks concluded, the staff in our building felt appreciated by our leader when she shared treats in the faculty room to celebrate!  Our students felt appreciated as we reminded them all of the fact that the skills we learn are NOT to pass a NYS test, but skills necessary to be successful in high school and college. After all, our school DOES NOT TEACH TO THE TEST. We teach skills that are necessary in every course in every academic setting and in life. 

So, NYS Testing lemons are thrown our way. We all continue to passionately advocate to change that process. But, in the meantime, as professionals, we kept our eye on the ball and have much to celebrate as a result. I am and always will be proud to be a middle school teacher. No Governor, politician or misguided adult in Albany will change that. The "kool-aid" that we were drinking this week was lemonade. We all eagerly return to finish our year strong, continuing to build and enhance the skills and knowledge of our students.

Positive Instead of Political

As a 26 year veteran in education, I thought that I had "seen it all." The last 7 years have been harsh with deep budget cuts and major changes that have been thrown at us by a governing body making decisions that are not based in research, experience or at times, even common sense. However, I navigate through like thousands of educators all over the state and the country.

The past few months, since the re-election of Governor Andrew Cuomo (which is mind-boggling in itself), the politicians in Albany have hurled accusations and threats at teachers that put our CHILDREN and the taxpayers in the middle of the fight. We have all seen the news, read the articles and watched social media blow up with facts AND MUCH FICTION from all kinds of sources. I am truly weary and frustrated from it all. But, I refuse to let it get the best of me!

I am fortunate to work in an incredible school that is filled with joy and professionalism. It is no accident that our Principal, Lisa Meade, was recently names SAANYS Principal of the Year, also selected to represent NYS in Washington, DC this fall. She leads and is the inspiration for us all. Our Middle School focuses on the good, the real, the students and what they need.

Make no mistake, we are passionately opposed to the reforms. We contact our politicians, sign petitions, call, even attend protests. But, it is not our focus.  Our focus is ON OUR STUDENTS.

A few events in recent weeks at CMS:

Thursday - Our annual Career Day expanded to include a College/Employment Exploration Fair! Nothing beats hearing your students exclaim, "I finally decided what I want to do in life." "That presenter was the best." "Look what the college representative showed me and gave me."  Our students were inspired by many, many adults that put this incredible activity in motion with their time. I also commend my colleagues for facilitating and insuring a meaningful day for all.

Tuesday- Positive Post It Note Day! This was a school-wide activity suggested by our Principal, inspired by a member of our PLN, 2014 Elementary Principal of the Year, Tony Sinanis. Students (and staff) wrote positive post it notes to others and shared them. It was an incredible idea executed with heart and passion by my colleagues. Watching several hundred students walk around (excitedly) sharing joy was a moment that I will never forget.

Friday - SCHOOL WIDE SURPRISE CELEBRATION for our Principal of the Year! Students sang, read poems and created cards and posters to remind her how important she is to all of us.

Daily, in my school, like many other schools, I am sure, teachers devote "free" time during lunch, planning and after school not just to help students to learn, but dealing with social and emotional crises that are typical at the middle level age of development. I am in awe of every colleague with whom I am blessed to work, as I have shared many times.

Across town in our elementary school, teachers welcomed an alumnus and active serviceman to share his military experiences. Students had sent care packages to our active service men and women at Christmas time. Last week, they put a face to the name and heard about how their packages impacted the lives of those serving. Bravo to our elementary colleagues for modeling respect and honor for those who serve our country.

In our high school, 2 different groups of students left our small town in upstate New York to travel to CHINA and EUROPE, trips that were 2 years in the making! Bravo to my colleagues who are facilitating and/or participating in these incredible experiences.

With so much to celebrate and about which to be positive, I refuse to let the current climate of using students and teachers as political pawns wear me down. I will return after break with a building full of educators who make lemonade from Albany's education lemon  laws. Most of us do not promote opting out, sabotaging the work of each other and our building. We serve breakfast, show inspirational videos and encourage our students to simply do their best, demonstrate what they have learned and what we have taught! After all, like it or not, the truth is that our teachers, Principal and building will be evaluated by the efforts of those who come to school and give us their best! (No protests, no silly cardboard Governor cutouts, no lobbying, or other attempts to modify the direction has changed the reality of the weight of these tests FOR THE ADULTS.) While I agree that the emphasis is wrong, it is reality right now that is about to become more harsh. I deal with reality the best that I know how, giving my all to my students. I am blessed with middle school educators who do the same.

I absolutely (as all educators do) respect a parent's right to opt a student out if it is in the best interest of his/her own child. There are numerous reasons to do so. But, lately, I read opting out being used by some as a political statement, once again, making students political pawns in the agendas of the adults. This a sad day for education.

To all of my hard-working educator friends in 3-8 testing, best wishes for success: all students giving their best! To all of the families around the state who send their students in each day to do their best (NO STRESS!), THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR WORK!

Happy Spring Break! Happy Easter! Happy Passover!