🚀 go-pugleaf

Carol.Hooper@f64.n381.z1.fidonet.org (Carol Hooper) writes:
>Hi, All.  I'm here to ask advice from experienced teachers concerning 
>the state testing which we will be giving in May.  Our school system 
>has, like many, I suppose, focused primarily on test results.  This is 
>going to be the true "test" of our success.  As a new teacher, I'm 
>looking for help in raising those test scores without giving into 
>teaching the test.  What can I do in the next four months to ease my 
>kids into the test?

I say, teach the test.  It's the *only* honest solution to this dilemma.

What you do is, you tell the kids, "Look, kids, a bunch of idiot politicians
who don't know mathematics from a hole in the ground and couldn't care less
about you or your education have decided to impose these tests, and on the
results of the test depend (1) your future careers, (2) the funding for
this school, and (3) my job.  Therefore, what we're going to do is, Monday
through Thursday we're going to study mathematics, and Friday we're going
to study the test.  This division by days may feel artificial; that's just
how I want it to feel.  I want to make sure you remember that this test has
*nothing to do with mathematics*, nothing to do with how smart you are, and
nothing to do with what you're really learning in this class."

Of course, if you don't believe that -- if you think the tests are a good
idea -- then you should just go ahead and teach math.  But if you *do*
believe it, then the only honest thing is to reject the Great Adult Conspiracy
wherein every adult pretends that no other adult ever does anything mistaken
or evil, and level with the kids.