So today was the first day of testing. UGH!! So how does it begin? Well, one kid went to the emergency room before the day even started! Yeah, he was playing outside on the play equipment and hit his head pretty good on the ground. Luckily, mom was on campus and took him immediately. Luckily he was fine and took the second part of the test today.
We had a decent breakfast in the cafeteria. And by decent I mean eggs and bacon, not the usual sticky buns, or my personal favorite -- chocolate chocolate chip muffins. Fortunately, someone had thought of the nutritious breakfast the government has us serve -- and that will be a post for another day -- and arranged for healthy food! So what do my kids do? Complain that the eggs have no flavor. And they were probably right. I told them to eat the bacon with the scary looking, pre-fab, circular scrambled eggs; the bacon would mask the non-existent flavor of the eggs.
Then we go into the class and prepare...visualizations, last pep talk, review of strategies, etc. Poor babies had to read 3, rather long for 3rd grade -- in my opinion -- passages. But they were troopers and did their best! I was very proud of them. Oh, I did learn a few facts...but for fear that the testing police will see this I will have to keep those to myself. BASTARDS! They were 'interesting' facts too!
Then it was time for the math section, after a nice break outside. This is where I realized how EVIL test makers, politicians, and other adults can be. The class worked hard. I had a few students taking their time (this is an untimed test) and really working out all the problems -- yea them! Then it came to lunch and a few students weren't finished. I sent the majority of the class ahead and stayed with the few remaining. One poor soul worked his little heart out. After missing 15 minutes of his lunch he was getting frustrated and hungry. He asked if he could go eat. I soooooo wanted to let him go, the dude is 8 for crying out loud. I know the rules, but I checked with my principal just in case. The verdict...He needs to finish. The kid did great, and was a great sport about it. He finished after missing 1/2 hour of his lunch. Poor guy. And now that I think of it, I should have had him eat in the class. He brought his own lunch...SHIT, I SUCK IT big time!!! Oh and the rulemakers...they SUCK IT even more!!! I know it's to prevent cheating, but give me a break. Let's make these rule maker big wigs take a long and grueling test and not let them eat. OH and make their pay depend on these ridiculous sanctions...
In short: I HATE testing, I suck, and testing is a money making industry for private industry!
I say I deserve a drink after today.
Oh, on a lighter note, one girl found a marble before one of the testing periods. At some point she lost it. She kept telling people, including me, "I lost my marble." For some reason that made me giggle.
We had a decent breakfast in the cafeteria. And by decent I mean eggs and bacon, not the usual sticky buns, or my personal favorite -- chocolate chocolate chip muffins. Fortunately, someone had thought of the nutritious breakfast the government has us serve -- and that will be a post for another day -- and arranged for healthy food! So what do my kids do? Complain that the eggs have no flavor. And they were probably right. I told them to eat the bacon with the scary looking, pre-fab, circular scrambled eggs; the bacon would mask the non-existent flavor of the eggs.
Then we go into the class and prepare...visualizations, last pep talk, review of strategies, etc. Poor babies had to read 3, rather long for 3rd grade -- in my opinion -- passages. But they were troopers and did their best! I was very proud of them. Oh, I did learn a few facts...but for fear that the testing police will see this I will have to keep those to myself. BASTARDS! They were 'interesting' facts too!
Then it was time for the math section, after a nice break outside. This is where I realized how EVIL test makers, politicians, and other adults can be. The class worked hard. I had a few students taking their time (this is an untimed test) and really working out all the problems -- yea them! Then it came to lunch and a few students weren't finished. I sent the majority of the class ahead and stayed with the few remaining. One poor soul worked his little heart out. After missing 15 minutes of his lunch he was getting frustrated and hungry. He asked if he could go eat. I soooooo wanted to let him go, the dude is 8 for crying out loud. I know the rules, but I checked with my principal just in case. The verdict...He needs to finish. The kid did great, and was a great sport about it. He finished after missing 1/2 hour of his lunch. Poor guy. And now that I think of it, I should have had him eat in the class. He brought his own lunch...SHIT, I SUCK IT big time!!! Oh and the rulemakers...they SUCK IT even more!!! I know it's to prevent cheating, but give me a break. Let's make these rule maker big wigs take a long and grueling test and not let them eat. OH and make their pay depend on these ridiculous sanctions...
In short: I HATE testing, I suck, and testing is a money making industry for private industry!
I say I deserve a drink after today.
Oh, on a lighter note, one girl found a marble before one of the testing periods. At some point she lost it. She kept telling people, including me, "I lost my marble." For some reason that made me giggle.