Before I begin...I'm expecting to be an aunt in the next 24 hours! It's very exciting and of course I'll share pictures as soon as I get them. Unfortunately I am unable to go visit my new nephew immediately after he's born because of school, but I'll go visit the day after school is out.
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And they didn't look good. I know my kids haven't had the most ideal year because of the first 4 months, but I didn't think it would affect them as much as it did. Reading the state standardized test scores for reading, math, and writing were a bit overwhelming. As a grade level, the scores weren't great at all. The principal handed us the scores with a, "I'll talk to y'all tomorrow." Fantastic! We have 4 teachers leaving, how much difference is that going to make. We already know that we didn't do something right this year...and we'll have to step it up big time next year.
My class is not immune to the low scores by any means...I hate to say that my class had many of the low scores. I had three children fail every test. All of these children have had previous difficulties with testing and grade level standards. One of these students didn't even look in her test booklets...as she was testing, I never saw her flip through the pages of the test booklet. I had two students fail two of the three tests. And I had some surprises that should never have failed the tests. AND, two of the students listed on my list were not in my class during the test. They both came AFTER the tests.
As I thought about these results, I started taking the blame from myself, even though I feel as though it's all my fault. I began realizing that I had to teach many things the week before the math and reading tests that were originally taught at the beginning of the year...well, at least in all of the other 4th grade classes. (Reminder: I started teaching two weeks before Winter Break.) I was cramming a semester's worth of learning into a few weeks before the test. Regardless of what I try to tell myself to take some weight off of my shoulders, it's hard to see those scores on paper and have them attached to my name. My principal may understand that it's not all of my responsibility, but these scores will be in my records. One of the hardest parts of my first TAKS experience may be that I didn't have full control over what my students were supposed to learn this year and it hurts me in the long run. Of course I am thankful for getting a job immediately after graduation, but there have been many struggles because of it.
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