Some State Testing and Some Science

The sad part of the day.....
door closed-students all apart-state testing

I duct taped the door jam so we wouldn't be distracted if people came and went...I encourage movement breaks...just not in the room:-)

Just a note to let everyone know to stay out...I taped this on top of the doorknob.

Sustenance for all involved!

The better part of the day....
My Chickadeees are SO into their non-fiction books.  I am loving how hard they are working!  Even the off-task ones haven't needed reminders.

 We ended the day with some science.  We defined germination and the parts of a plant.

a diagram to add to our lap book

Then we used our bodies to show what each stage of a plant might be expressed.

germination...note the tiny leaves

seed

Then I sent four students in the hall and told them to each pick one stage of a flower.   Then told them to come back in, out of order.

 Another student had to direct them back into the correct plant growing order.

Happy Tuesday,

Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3

My 3rd graders are starting the reading portion of the state test this week.  We have been working on lot of test taking strategies.  More importantly, I have been working on ways to prop them up!  Half of the work is knowing you can do and not stressing out.  I posted about some of the ways I try to encourage students once before.  You can check it out here.  Parents are sending in encouraging letters for students to read before they begin.

This year, I had my 2nd graders do some work to encourage their 3rd grade friends.  I told them it was a secret project and explained a bit about the test the third graders were going to be taking.  Then when parent volunteers were at school, they took 2nd graders into the hall and worked on the "Secret" project.  My 2nd graders were loving getting to have more info. than the 3rd graders:-)

First each 2nd grader picked a 3rd grader and made them a water bottle label.

Then in a big group, they all made a giant poster....it will be so useful in covering up some of our not-allowed anchor charts:-)

Love that they tried to make both Duck and Beaver fans happy in their color choice.

What do you all do for the ridiculousness of standardized testing?  For more ideas check out this linky party.

Happy Sunday,

Positive Test Prep

More Linky Party fun, maybe I can do one for each day of week!  Ms. Wainwright over at The Diary of a Not So Wimpy Teacher is having a Test Prep Linky Party.  I am sure many of us have lots of great strategies for test prep and many of our kids totally get it.  What I really wanted was to pump them up and build their confidence.  So many of them had such anxiety over the whole testing process, that even though they know it, they freak themselves out.

A week or two before we start testing, I ask parents to send a note school, encouraging their child.  I send home fancy paper, envelopes, and some suggestions of things to say.  They give the paper to family members, who write letters to their little test taker.  When the student goes to start their test I give them their letters, to read before they begin.


















I send a lengthy letter.  The first side is all about the test and other things they might want to know about how state testing works. 

The second page is a list of suggestions for creating the best supportive environment for students.

The day of the test, I give students this positive paper.  We read it together, and then I tell them to keep it next to their space and refer to it, when something seems tricky.

And these little papers with some test strategies, also to put next to their space as a tool during testing.












Happy Testing,
Laurie