Classroom
community continues to be on my mind as the school year begins. We are three weeks into our year and last
week I already started to get overwhelmed. I read an excellent post by Deb
Frazier entitled: Building A Community of Learners-The First Six Weeks.
“But as I watched their innocent faces it was
obvious they knew they were being judged on their performance. There is
no undoing this feeling, the kids now own that embarrassment and worry. I
struggle to find the benefits of early assessment. Assessing students before
they've developed relationships and established routines seems like a
"pop" exam before the syllabus is passed out. I understand and
value timely pre-assessment but, how does assessment in the first 3 weeks enable
a student to feel valued and respected, both of which are necessary for their
success?”
As
I read Deb’s article although she teaches first grade, she reflected my
thoughts, and I totally agree with her. My students are ten years old and are
familiar with the testing that is required, and I still see that look in their
faces. I feel like I have “lost control”
of my first six weeks. Our district has
shifted toward required MAP testing this year. For fifth graders, three
separate tests on reading, math and science. In addition, reading and word
assessments. I wonder why I allow myself
to get pulled into a tailspin when I know all of these assessments must be
given the first month of school? Why do
I get so focused on theses tests and lose the other parts of our school day?
I
took some time away from school this weekend allowing myself to try and jump
back into summer when I was thinking about how to build strong readers and
writers. Choosing several picture books
to guide those important first mini lessons.
I went back to my twitter favorites and remembered those important
conversations that I don’t want to lose, but I had put on the back burner. I
need to remember to stop and pause even after the first three weeks of school.
The conversations and the book talks that we have already had are helping my
students switch genres or finding time to read in their busy schedule. I
realize as I finish typing this post that testing is not over taking the first six weeks.
It is just a part of the first six weeks. Shifting my focus to the other parts
of our day is where I need to spend my time.
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| Ending our week in writing clubs for our newsletter. |
"I realize as I finish typing this post that testing is not over taking the first six weeks. It is just a part of the first six weeks."
ReplyDeleteI think we are so conscious about what is lost to testing, that sometimes we forget to trust our best teacher selves - the selves that know what's important and manage to find time for. So glad that you came to that conclusion by the end of your post!