Testing at School

We start ITBS testing tomorrow. Standardized testing is such a drag! Yes, I know that it is supposed to be a good way to measure what a child knows. Does it? And does standardized testing determine what a child will become? Absolutely not! What do you think? Could the roughly 5 days we spend doing standardized testing be used for better purposes?

Good Day Overall

Ag day was a success today. The students were very well behaved and the weather was excellent! I guess the only downside to today was that it was turn in day for magazine sales. This is the first class that I have sponsored and my first go-around with magazine sales. It is crazy! Anyway, I have pretty much made it through and the kids were really good about it. My high school buddy arrives tomorrow. Can't wait to see the old dog.

Looking Forward to the Week

I am really looking forward to this week. Tuesday is Ag day at school, which is always fun. On Wednesday my son has a football game and my best friend from high school is coming in from Chicago. He is going to spend Thursday and Friday speaking to our STEM class. On Friday he might stay and go to Homecoming at Culver Stockton College with me. It is my 20th year class reunion. I can't believe it! This week is going to be extremely busy but should be full of fun also.

Teaching?

I am starting to wonder when there is time for teaching? When I started teaching 20 years ago there was one thing that mattered when it came to teaching…how well were you teaching? Class was rarely missed by teachers or students. Today there rarely is a day that isn't affected by teachers, including myself, missing class due to a meeting or an in-service. It is also just as common place for students to miss class due to meetings, early dismissal for games, or a barrage of other things. With the state putting more and more requirements on teachers, students, and schools in general it is amazing to me how the state also wants more out of all of the above with less time in the classroom. To me this makes absolutely no sense whatsoever! Let's get back in the classroom and do what we came here to do!

Doin' it from the iPhone

Hoping this works. It is so easy!