Tests Can Kiss My Butt!

I was having a pretty good day. I spent the afternoon with the other fourth grade teachers and some instructional coaches rating some writing compositions. This was a great opportunity to let us share writing and have an outsider rate our kiddos. (It gets hard to rate your own class honestly after they've been writing and progressing all year in front of you.)

The scores weren't a surprise. I knew who still needed work and who was doing very well. A highlight of today was that each person who wrote a score, also gave a teaching point and a positive point about the composition. This is something that I will start on immediately. Well, all was satisfactory until...

I returned to my classroom to check my e-mail only to find our results from the TAKS practice test we took 2 weeks ago. Whenever we get these scores back, my whole day is ruined. The scores are rarely good. Our fourth graders don't do very well on these tests. I don't know what it is. I boggles my mind every time the results come in. I try to reflect on what I've done/not done and wonder what I am doing wrong. I feel like I'm doing a good job. I see my kiddos growing, emotionally and intellectually. I see them relating what they've learned to real-world concepts weeks after they were first taught.

How can a stupid test make me feel like such a crappy teacher? I know I do a good job. I of course know there are things I could do better, but this is still a learning process for me. However, I'm not the only one with the low scores, it's all of fourth grade.

The constant tests reminds me why I resented standardized testing when I was in school. Now I also realize how my kids feel. I, in no way, teach "to the test", but try to teach the concepts that they will need to know for the test in a hands-on, multiple learning experiences, "Best Practices" manner, but apparently that isn't working.

I'm stumped and frustrated to no end! I can't wait for the repercussions of the low scores on this test. Hmmm...where to go from here?!?!?!