Oh, State Testing

Due to my own misguided planning and the fact that I work with students in first, second, third, fourth and fifth grades, I have just finished the my third week of (high-stakes/these numbers will follow you for life) testing. That's 14 instructional days devoted to filling in the bubbles. My students have been troopers. Fueled by a steady stream of Cheerios and water breaks, they really gave it their all. Each day, their behavior has been getting a little bit more wonky. I've had lots of odd noises, chit-chat, and repeated questions about the schedule.

They knew today was the last day and they were totally wiggly when I asked them to take a seat. Their engines were on high. I knew that it was not the kind of ya-yas that could be gotten out with my typical combination of jumping jacks and standing yoga poses.

So we took off for the track. Half way there, I began to jog and all of my well-trained students did what I did.

I engaged my best elementary appropriate trash talk (i.e. I'm gonna smoke ya! You're being beaten by an old person) and kept running. After two laps around (except for one boy who made it around three times), their engines were all significantly decelerated and we got down to business.

I'm thinking of giving everyone a 100% on tomorrow's spelling test just so I don't have to give any more tests this week. As the teacher, that is way in my jurisdiction.