the life of a teacher

Well, I have had an interesting week. I proctored the TCAP test at an elementary school in Pulaski for third grade on Monday through Thursday. I was fortunate to be in the same room all four days so I was really able to see the differences in students and the differences in the same students on different days. Only one student didn't finish one test over all four days of testing. I think the thing that bothered me the most was that the students couldn't read after they finished each section. Knowing as I do that the more they read, the better they score on these kinds of tests, I am surprised that the state won't allow them to read in between sections. Instead most of them fell asleep from boredom and that can't have helped the grades on the second test of the day. I also wondered if playing classical music would help the students to focus more and handle the stress of the test better - not to mention helping them with the time factor. I know it would help with the noise factor as there would be less of a shock when a pencil or booklet fell off a student's desk;-)

My Friday was spent in emergency substituting for english at LCHS. The substitute who had been hired to finish out the year for the pregnant teacher just walked out the door when she realized that she wasn't going to get teacher pay for the job, but only substitute pay. My sister called me at 8:15 and I rushed up there instead of spending the day on homework - I am such a procrastinator.

Well, time to get something accomplished today.