29 Days
This morning on the 4 train to work a man (presumably homeless and/or mentally unstable) came onto the train and starting shouting warnings of fire and brimstone and lakes of fire. It was 7:30 in the morning. As a Jew I'm not generally interested in hearing about Christ as the past to salvation. Before 8am I'm really not interested in hearing about it.
Why do I relate this story? The state ELA exam is 29 days away and throughout the school the test is being touted as this End of Days event. "If you don't get it together you will fail the test and be back in 4th grade!" Is fear really the way to get kids motivated? And if they don't want to hear about in general, do they really want to hear about it at 8am?
I am tired of hearing about the test. I am tired of using it as a blunt tool of intimidation and motivation. Everyone in the school constantly complains about the tests and how there's way too much emphasis placed on them. But when it comes to talking to the kids we make them think it is the end and the beginning of their education this year. So if/when they fail it feeds into a powerful sense of learned helplessness. There must be a way to prepare them for the test without building up the test into this singular and final indicator of academic performance.
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Why do I relate this story? The state ELA exam is 29 days away and throughout the school the test is being touted as this End of Days event. "If you don't get it together you will fail the test and be back in 4th grade!" Is fear really the way to get kids motivated? And if they don't want to hear about in general, do they really want to hear about it at 8am?
I am tired of hearing about the test. I am tired of using it as a blunt tool of intimidation and motivation. Everyone in the school constantly complains about the tests and how there's way too much emphasis placed on them. But when it comes to talking to the kids we make them think it is the end and the beginning of their education this year. So if/when they fail it feeds into a powerful sense of learned helplessness. There must be a way to prepare them for the test without building up the test into this singular and final indicator of academic performance.
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Now playing: IndieFeed.com community - MF DOOM - One Beer
via FoxyTunes
Comments
So, that may or may not answer your question, but mainly I just wanted to say that you're not alone.