The World According to Leslie

Yesterday, I posted about all the tests that the Princess has to take over the next 6 school days. You can read that here . When I picked her up yesterday, she said she felt good about her Math test.  She should be fine with the English test today. She usually does well on it. However.... This morning, when I dropped her off at school, she looked at me and asked me if she has to keep going to school. Seriously? I didn't want to make her get out of the car and go in for another day of testing! It's only going to get worse, I figure. So, as I sit here with tears in my eyes, I have to force myself to force my kid to go to school for tests. I'm just hoping that for the next 6 mornings she doesn't ask me to keep her at home.  It will only get harder for me to say "Go to school" every day. What heart-breaking questions have your kids asked you?

I have mixed feelin about the end-of-year testing. Did you know that in middle school, there are 3-4 different types of tests?  There's the EOG (end-of-grade test, for selected middle school subjects), the EOC (end-of-course test, for students in high school classes in certain subjects), the NCFE (North Carolina Final Exam, for most subjects that do not already have an EOC/EOG), and teacher-made exams (for classes that don't have a state test but still require a final exam grade)!!  My daughter gets to take 4 EOGs/NCFEs, 2 EOCs, and 1 teacher-made exam!!  Yes!! That adds up to SEVEN!!!!  SEVEN tests for my ONE child!!!! As a teacher, I can see that it is useful to see where students may have deficits in certain areas. I do not, however, think that the tests should be used at the end all/be all for the students. They should be used to help differentiate learning for the students. Find a way to teach the students what they lack. Find a way to enrich what they do ...

Have you ever been on "autopilot"? For the past couple of weeks, I have had so much stuff to get done. I just feel like I'm on "autopilot" trying to complete stuff. I am still working on VBS.  While I have a core team of people, I still need about 15-20 more volunteers. Plus, we have to do volunteer training (May 20th) and get all the supplies together for everyone!  While we have a good bit of stuff already for The Princess's Silver Award, we still need a lot more stuff.  As of today, she has been approved to have a yard sale on May 27th and to put up wish lists on Amazon and Dollar Days.  I will post the details of those here when we get them set up. We are still working on getting stuff collected and raising money for the Better to Give project at church. I have a Wish list set up through Dollar Days for that, and I will post that information here ASAP! It's also the end of the year--school year! Next week, the final progress reports for ...

Exams started yesterday at my school.  That means that the kids only have 4 days left.  It means that *I* only have 6 days left.   I’m excited at the prospect of sleeping beyond 3:30am!    I can’t believe that the Princess will be in middle school next year.   I have so much on my mind, but not enough time to write it out right now.  Hopefully I get more writing time this summer to get some of these things out of my head.

At this point in the school year, I’m not doing anything new.  I teach an elective class, so I get the privilege of writing my own exam. I don’t have a state exam.  So, in that case, what do you do with 20 days left in the year?   You give them a 3 page study guide with specific instructions for how you expect it to be completed.  Then you give them time in class for two days to complete it so that they can’t whine as much about the amount of work.   Then you give them the answers to the study guide, assign them a specific part of it, and have them reteach that part of the information to the class.  That is the beginning of the review.   Then we play games (that they come up with and that I already have) for about 2 weeks.    Then it’s time for exams!    20 days of school left….. 15 teaching days/5 exam days!  This is the best part of being a teacher…. reviewing to get to the exam!

February has ended.  Here in NC, it ended with nice weather. March has started.  On Sunday, it was 70 degrees.  Yesterday started at 55, but by noon it was freezing.  Today is starting in the teens and will hopefully defrost during the day.   We had sleet and freezing rain last night.  I really thought we might get a delay this morning.  I guess not.   I was hoping.  I could have slept another 4-5 hours.   I picked up a writing job…30 articles.  I need to get those completed ASAP.    We are in the MIDDLE of cookies.  The Princess isn’t close to her 2500 box goal yet.   We are hoping she will still get 1000.  This year, for 1000 boxes, you get a free iPad mini.  She really wants it, but we shall see.  She’s still trying to sell cookies.    The countdown is still on for everything around here.   Countdown updates: 11 days until the Art Gala and Auction at the Pri...

WOW!  You know the old saying, “Time flies when you’re having fun?”  Well, I must have had a blast this year!  Today is the last TEACHING day for my kids.  Exams start tomorrow.   Between tomorrow and Monday, I will give all of the exams I am giving.  Then the grading starts, but still….. WOW!  By Tuesday of next week, I will have finished all of my grades for kids.  I will not have any paperwork for the kids left to do!   After Monday,  I have many kids that I will not see again.  Those that I do see will be watching a movie.  I really only have 3 more 90 minute classes to teach.    Then…..  it’s over!   The Princess is taking her exams yesterday and today.  She won’t get the results back until October! WOW!  That’s FOREVER!   I’m taking the paperwork to her new school today.  (I just need to get 2 things from her doctor and everything will be in!)   Countdo...

Do any of those sound like they have something in common?   No?   Well…..   Today, in my world, they have something in common.   That is what I am doing today.  1. Going to watch the Princess play softball (Go TARHEELS!) 2. Going to get the van checked since we didn’t get home in time to do it last night 3. Putting lots of Spring-y dresses on eBay to make some cash…. hopefully! 4. Working on shrinking my final exam for school so that it fits in 2 hours instead of 4!!!!  I am giving my final exams on Friday, May 31 and Monday, June 3!  I don’t have much time left to teach these kids!  I hope they are ready for full-speed, overdrive to get finished!   My weekend plans often have a way of connecting really random things!    LET’S GO TARHEELS!!!!