Testing…testing…1,2,3…

I know you have heard it from your children, because I have heard it from them.  “Another test???!!!”  is heard from at least one of my students daily, as we converge upon NWEA, with DCAS still clearly in our rear view mirror.  I understand that some of you may have this initial reaction as well.  Many of us have strong feelings regarding tests, or anything that that tends to categorize us according to a number. Learning is about the joy of curiosity, and gaining the tools one needs to develop and support that curiosity.  Certainly not about taking standardized tests. I totally get that. However, learning is also about providing teachers with timely, relevant data regarding their students, and the DCAS and NWEA tests are of tremendous benefit in providing this oh-so-important information.

After a student takes these tests, it not only helps us to see where he or she is challenged, but it details specifically what we can do to help them meet these challenges.  Additionally, it helps us to continue to challenge even the most gifted of students.  It allows us, as a school, to be certain that each of our students, no matter where they are on the spectrum, no matter what “number” is assigned to them, are learning the best way for them, enabling them to work up to their potential.   I would love to say that I made that up, but I can’t.  It is straight from our Mission Statement.  Good stuff!. 

That being said, we have been very busy in Technology and Business Ed.  Students from 4^th grade and up are taking timed typing assessments, with the end goal of 25 wpm with 0 errors.  Many students have already met that goal!  Introducing keyboarding to students as young as Kindergarten is truly showing the intended results – quicker and more accurate typing at a younger age. Great work everyone!  If you would like to see the type of assessments we use, please see the websites below.  Many students have been accessing the websites at home (they are free!) and it shows.

As always, I am continuing to work closely with the classroom teachers to support the hard work they are doing across the curriculum.  We have:

• …learned about Johnny Appleseed, (ask your Kindergartener his REAL name) 
• …learned about “Computers Inside and Out”, and even created some amazing drawings of computer components and our favorite websites.  Quiz your child on computer “components” (we learned that word – FYI -fancy word for “parts”)
• …been using our keyboarding skills and Microsoft Word in Business Ed to learn the proper format for a business letter.
• …been supporting all the hard work going on in LA, with our writing paying careful attention to grammar and punctuation. 
• …been all over the map, literally, playing interactive Social Studies games which test our ability to identify states, continents, bodies of water and directions. 

Technology is unique in that it is used across the curriculum.  It is why I love to teach it and why your children love to use it.  Thanks, as always, for the opportunity to work with your children.  As far as the testing goes, tell them to get plenty of rest and eat a healthy breakfast.  Beyond that, let them know if there was a test for “awesomeness” they would all score a perfect 10!