Ins and Outs of my Life

Teacher rant and rave

This week is "testing week." We are taking "The Big Test" this week. Teachers hate this time of year because it is stressful. Some schools make major decisions based on test scores. They shouldn't base it only on test scores but they do. For instance, at my school your job can be booted if your kids don't score well. ANd by well I mean well above the national level as we are a private school and our expectations are set higher. My principal actually told grade level that he was going to compare our test scores to see who moved up to another grade level which none of us want. He is thinking the highest move up. If we were dishonest-- we might try not to want our kids to have the high test scores -- or we have to move a grade level.
Today one of my kids sat looking at his test for 20 minutes. He refused to do it until I told him it was for a grade ( I lied). Thing is he is a lazy child who goofs off all the time. I am always having to talk to his mom. He just decided he didn't feel like doing it so he wasn't until I intervened. He didn't finish his test in the time period. Now tell me is that fair? He probaly shot my scores to hell but oh well- it's just my job being on the line. Thankfully, I think I have several high scorers and that will even things out.