What If I Just Kept Teaching?

The first round of our state's standardized testing begins this week. (Indiana-ISTEP) Delayed a week because of the unusually high number of snow days this year. Really an extended window to complete the tests, the State's Department of Education (IDOE) acknowledged the disruption to instruction that occurred due to all of the missed days.

After Winter Break ended, we didn't have a full week with students until mid February. Multi day lessons in math and science were separated and rescheduled. Chapter tests in Math were disconnected from the practice assignments. 

Science, has been impacted especially hard. We only have two Science periods a week, so a well placed Polar Vortex can mean that my kids might not get science for two weeks. My grade level partners and I changed the sequencing of the investigations to put Ecology in the 3rd quarter and the Earth Science and Space in the 4th quarter this year to take advantage of the Spring weather. Looking at past years lesson plans, my class was two to four weeks behind where we probably should be at this point in the year. We haven't investigated half of the topics in Ecology and nothing that had to do with tides, the moon, or seasons. Topics that I know will be probably be covered on ISTEP.

Full confession. I did prepare some practice packets, so that my kids are familiar with the format and how to answer the types of questions that are asked. I owe them that. They don't need to get surprised by the format. Unlike many of our class assessments, they don't get a choice to demonstrate how they know something. On ISTEP, circle the bubble or put your answer on the line provided. That should do it.

Especially with all the instructional gaps, It was really tempting to get out previous test versions and piece together some sort of cram packet and squeeze all of the topics into our school day. I could teach to the test. I could stress the kids out, give them a "5 basquillion" worksheets that will teach them nothing, except to confirm that they don't usually learn much from worksheets.

"I go to school to learn, not fill out paperwork" - My 16 year-old son

I could organize a school wide rally to get the kids excited about a test. 

(from my class' Facebook page)

I could make a fun video to get my students focused.

I'm not criticizing these efforts. I want to very clear about that. These methods are earnest attempts to get kids pumped up or prepared for a task that's important to a great number of people. There is a lot riding on these tests, but for me, there's more riding on what they learn and how they think.

My problem is that teachers feel the need to get kids excited about a test. What if we didn't put our efforts into preparation and testing? What if parents, districts, administrators didn't put so much emphasis on the results? What if teachers would just keep on teaching?

What if I put my focus on creating engaging lessons and investigations? What if I put my energy into our classroom, create a place that was safe and fun,  so that it was a place that kids wanted to come to?

What if I just kept teaching?

I'm about to find out.

Thanks for reading.
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photo credit: dianecordell via photopin cc