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.