ISAT

For those of you who are not in tune with the Illinois State requirements in Education, the ISAT testing is coming up next week. AHHHH! As a Third Grade teacher, I have to administer this assessment to my students. Third Grade is the first grade that students are required to take this testing. It is in the subject areas of Reading, Math and Writing. I have been preparing my students for this assessment for some weeks now. I hate the expression "Teaching to the Test," but guess what I am one of those people. There is so much information that the students have to know for that assessment that I, along with other teachers can not help, but try to gear our class instruction to the things that they will see on the assessment. I have been administering sample tests in class, that way the students have an idea of what is going to be expected on them. Testing has changed since I was in elementary school. They now require students to write extended responses in Math. Yes, I said Math. They have to work out the problem and then write in words step-by-step of what did to solve the problem. This is very hard for students. So, as you say your prayers every night from now through next weekend, please say a little prayer for those students taking this assessment.

This testing is a big deal to schools, as well as the teachers. This assessment lets me as the classroom teacher know how well I have taught my students. I just pray that they all do well.