So you might be wondering...

This week is STAR testing. How are my students doing?

We start the morning off with a cardio workout; it's very intensive! We dance as wildly as we can to the Black Eyed Peas and then we take two laps around the field. Someone may ask... oh no, doesn't that get them all riled up before they need to focus on their test?

Well, what have you heard all your life...? If you're stressed or nervous, sit still in a chair? If you're stressed, eat some chocolate cake? If you're stressed, take a test? Nooooo..... you're supposed to exercise! Read Brain Rules by John Medina.

So, I'm walking around the room proctoring the exam. I'm no Agatha Trunchbull (the evil headmistress from Matilda by Roald Dahl). I don't pace the rows and tap a ruler on my hand. But I do observe and I am curious about the questions my students are required to answer.

Legally I cannot disclose any of the questions I observed on their test, but I'll give you a close example:

Read the following directions on how to install a hard-drive to your computer:
blah, blah, blah, blah

As the nine-year old's eyes glaze over.

Here's what I love... because I teach critical thinking skills all year, my students were really pondering... "Why in the world am I being tested on this?"

But the beauty is, they were marking the correct answers, because they know how to persevere and those critical thinking skills really helped.

So how are my students doing?

I don't think they know the importance of the STAR test. And why should they? They're just happy to dance every morning. Happy to get gum while they work, and happy we have longer snack recess.  They don't need to be burdened with the undo stresses us adults endure. That's exactly what we should be protecting them from. Just let them dance!

Funny mistakes

So I tried to think of a fun way to review for the STAR test which is happening this week. I told the students that we were having an "All- STAR Quiz Show". Each student created a character and wrote a short background story of their character. The students then dressed up as their character for the quiz show. I dressed up as the host, we had game-show music, and I held a fake microphone as I interviewed each contestant about who they were. It was hilarious as students attempted to act their part.

The mistake I made:
Well, I told all of the students about this last week. I clearly wrote it in a note home and told each student to bring a costume to school, but not to wear the costume first thing in the morning.

Let's just say, that on day one of the STAR test, pencils sharpened, desks in rows, one of my students arrived in a massive carnival hat. Can we say distracting? We all had a good laugh and the hat was put away... at leat no one showed up in a grass skirt or a mask of face paint.

oops:)