The Truth about Standardized Testing!

I was dedicated to the idea of standardized testing for 11 years of my teaching career. From February to May my students immersed themselves in the genre of testing.  I taught countless short term memory skills for math and spent countless hours building my students' stamina to read passages and answer questions.  My students were so prepared for the test that by the time the test came around it was easier for my students than the practice tests. Practice, more practice, and short term memory strategies proved to be successful.  My students performed very well on state testing so well that other teachers spread rumors that I might be cheating.
During those years I always felt I was doing what was best for my students. I whole-heatedly believed that I was helping my students develop an Advanced and/or Proficient label for themselves.  During conferences, workshops, and meetings I listened as educators labeled students into categories, and the last thing I wanted for my students was to be labeled Below Basic or Far Below Basic which I felt set them up for failure in the eyes of their next year's teachers/educators.
The reason I reflect on this now is simple. We are returning to the teach to the test philosophy!  During my grade level meeting last Wednesday, we discussed INSPECT testing questions. These are basically the same questions as in the past! We've been down this road before which resulted in a damaging labeling process.
I have mastered the process of teaching to the test, and it's a waste of students' valuable learning time.  There is no creativity, collaboration, innovation, or communication involved. I'd rather quit teaching then go back to months of shoving short term memory information into my students.     

Words to Encourage Growth Mindset

I need to remember this! It's so easy to slip back into general praise and/or praise with intent to improve. 

I remember reading the results of a study where students learn by age 7 that those given praise are in need of improvement. This made sense to me because I see how my words fed into this belief.

I also see how my words effect students internal dialogue and perception of self.

Some basics are exciting and motivational to young students!

Future Ready includes students learning foundational reading skills.

Some basic reading skills like how to decode larger words by identifing syllable patterns, breaking words apart while sounding out and thinking through words are not as exciting for teachers, but it's not for the teacher! It's exciting for 7 and 8 year olds to learn about words. They rejoice in being word detectives and take pride in learning to decode and encode larger words. Basic skills instruction is not as flashy as supporting students as they create a video production, but it's exciting for students to learn literacy skills and experience success. Primary teachers and educators must remember that young students are thrilled by learning about words. Just don't make it a competition. Rewards for reading and spelling simply reward readers and good spellers who already feel successful while at the same time make those learning to read feel like failures or inadequate at reading.

Reading is not magic... It is taught... The magic recides in the teacher who remembers the basics are FUN for students even when the instruction seems mundane or ordinary. 

The light of excitement on a child's face as they learn a simple decoding skill is anything but mundane... extraordinary!

Digital Footprint! School is a safe place to learn and grow!

Just participated in the podcast about KidBlog on Teacher Cast. It is the next step for my students who really have started to develop as digital citizens on Edmodo.

School is a safe environment for students to develop a positive digital footprint. The idea of a digital footprint is real and what I currently feel compelled to help my students develop.  We will see how it goes! 😁