The Show
I am trying to prepare myself for the massive wave of standardize testing that will start tomorrow for my first grade kiddos. Over the course of the next week and a half, they will take cumulative exams in the areas of reading, math, and science (did I mention these are first graders?). Presumably, this is what the whole year has led up to- not instilling a love of reading, or skills to think both critically and imaginatively. No, my daily toils will climax in an explosion of children (and teacher) tears as we wade through a jungle of scantrons and misery. This is also the measuring stick with which my colleagues and I will be evaluated. Our job security and salary are dependent a snapshot of the year. A single day in which we must hope that a group of seven-year-olds will come in feeling up to the task of sitting quietly in their chairs for hours without any sort of break, and do their very best on a ten page test. Sounds awesome, right?
