Standardized Testing---BLAHHHHHH

I might be crazy, but I am already thinking about next year and what changes I want to make for my instruction and classroom. Don't get me wrong, I am definitely loving this year!!! My kiddos are one of my best classes I have had. Reflecting back on this year, my head is spinning on what went great or what went not so great. I now have all these ideas swimming aroundin my head that I want to try out or be sure to implement. Hence why I started my own blog.
First Idea I need to get out -
Testing - Yes, 3rd grade in Texas has that good 'ole STAAR Test. Prepping my students for it ALL year is such a daunting task. You don't want to set them off early into high blood presssure land, but you want to make sure they understand the importance.   This year, I did my best not to shove the word STAAR down their throats.  As a result, I started to feel like my kiddos weren't too worried about how they did at all on any major assessment. AHHHHHH!!! right?    After having different meetings at school and talking with a broad range of subject area teachers, I pooled their ideas and created these ideas. 

• Set goals for every assessment - This last unit test we took, I tried this idea out. I conferenced with EVERY student before the test. (34 to be exact, when you teach two math classes) I showed the student all of his/her previous test scores and asked them what they want to make on this test. Of course some of them answered enthusiasticly 100!!! And of course, some of your babies need a more realistic goal. I discussed that with them and we decided on a better choice if they needed. Now, don't stop there!!! Yes, an overall goal is important. However, I thought my students were ready to address their OWN mistakes. Now, as perfect I thought this was going to be, it wasn't as easy as I thought. I asked each child what  mistakes they know they make on their assignments to keep them from that 100! Many of them were very in tuned with themselves, and could answer as specifically as I add wrong sometimes, or I don't check my work against my answer. I WAS LIKE OMGGGGGGGGGGGG when this came out of my babies' mouths! I was so proud that they were aware of their own mistakes! But, there were a few that would say the standard "I didn't show my work", when indeed they did. Those were the ones that helped me come to the realization that if I had done this exercise from the very beginning of the year and continued it ALL year my students would be experts in learning from mistakes! So here are my ideas to help with this very important piece of teaching a testing grade level - setting goals and working toward them.
• After the first few weekly tests I give at the beginning of the year, conference with the students and decide what mistakes are being made. Have them keep a journal/chart of some sort. On the first unit test, have them set a goal. ( Sometimes, I don't even discuss a grade goal, it would be goals like Finish the test in the time allowed.)  After the test, reward them if they met any goal they set.
• Complete a test yourself the way you would want it to look. Be sure you use the strategies you are teaching to them. After the test, have the students analyze your test with theirs and journal what they didn't do for each problem they missed. You will have those friends that just use the standard  "didn't show work". Be sure you have them elaborate on this. They can't learn from the mistake if they truly don't know what they did wrong!! BE SURE TO CONFERENCE WITH THEM about this journal! They will need guidance with it the whole year!

Example: The sticky note was what I conferenced about with each student. they put it on their desk for reminders. This student wouldn't read carefully and make silly mistakes so her goal was to read every question twice!

 

Okay, okay I have now officially talked your ear off. Thanks for reading! See you back soon!