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Sunday, March 23, 2014

Peek At My Week Linky


I wish I had something really REALLY exciting on the books for this week, but we are in test prep frenzy this week.  Our ELA is April 1, 2, and 3 (really, NY?  On April Fools Day?  Seriously?).  I plan to (re) teach text organization and then we will spend Thursday and Friday dissecting test passages.  Thrilling, right?




I have to say, my kids are doing an amazing job justifying their choices and eliminations on the multiple choice sections.

Justifying  - students cross out parts of the choice that makes the entire choice incorrect.  Students make quick notes in the margins about why the choices are incorrect and why their choice is correct.


This week, we are going to focus on time management.  In my classroom, time is the enemy of close reading.  My students are coding the text as they read, they draw lines to designate sections, they dissect the questions by boxing words that are important, they make notes in the margins about the choices....and all of this takes time.  This week, I am going to insist that they move from making notes to talking themselves through the choices in their heads.  I hate to scare them, but *I'm* scared that they won't finish the test in time.  I think the best course of action is to apply all of the strategies we've been using, but make some of these processes a mental process.

Six school days until the ELA. How about you?  Are you in the midst of testing season?
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4 comments:

  1. Deb HansonMarch 23, 2014 at 11:18 AM

    I absolutely LOVE your chart! Luckily, our Nebraska state tests are not timed. Is your test timed?!?

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  2. AnaMarch 23, 2014 at 5:53 PM

    Time management is sooo so hard for students, especially on timed stat tests. For my third graders it's really hard because they've never taken a test like it before. Keep up the good work and good luck!!! Have a great week.
    Ana
    Mrs. Bentin's Blackboard

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jennifer LaffinMarch 24, 2014 at 12:24 PM

    I get the feeling that A LOT of teachers and students are feeling the testing stress right now. What a shame that everything boils down to one week's worth of testing. In Wisconsin, we test in the fall, but will switch to the spring next year with Smarter Balance.

    I'll have good thoughts for you! Best of luck & thanks for linking up!
    Jennifer
    Mrs. Laffin's Laughings

    ReplyDelete
  4. Alison RoseMarch 25, 2014 at 9:14 AM

    This week I'm on Spring Break, but then we have two solid weeks of test prep before we have two solid weeks of actual testing. I'm ready for it to be over with already! Good thing I have all of your awesome math games to use with my rockstars! :)
    Alison
    Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'

    ReplyDelete