Not a teacher Cindy, but I'll give my thoughts anyway. State mandated testing has become a huge stressful event for students and teachers here. A crazy amount of time is devoted to test taking skills and preparation for these tests. At least 5 entire weeks Bobby had no homework so that the children could focus on either the practice or real testing. The teachers are frustrated with the lack of time to teach required curriculum, and zero time for anything enriching.
Like anything else the students, including my boys, do better on these tests with practice. The test taking tips and tricks that apply to SAT tests are pretty much the same tips for the younger kids. Look for the tricky almost right answer. Read all the answers, etc.
Also, I feel your pain. Kids shouldn't have to stress over these things. There is plenty of stress later in life.
Cindy, Ben is me. Try to impress upon him that he should read the directions at LEAST twice. As for his writing, I'll be willing to bet that his bare-bones style is more effective than adding flowery detail. *shrug* I hate standardized testing because I think it does a great disservice to individual style when it comes to writing. Tell him I said good luck.
Deena, the Natural History Museum sounds wonderful. Taking note of it for a future trip up there.
Boy's taking a nap and I gorged on a GIGANTIC (I'm not exaggerating, it's 6 in. in diameter) sugar cookie we bought at a local bakery in DH's home town.
I have some pictures from this weekend.
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Nothing exciting happended, there are just pictures because I felt like taking pictures. Leif drank some purfume, scaled our wooden fence and went into the neighbor's yard, and dumped a bunch of mud on his head, so it was a pretty ordinary day.
Gud's kids are ADORABLE. And now I want a popsicle. I hope you're happy.
And now I want a popsicle. I hope you're happy.
My evil plan has worked. Bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha hee hee.
All I wanted was a popsicle. Just one popsicle. And he wouldn't give it to me.
They just keep bugging me!
Wonderful pics Gud. The smiles have melted me.
Cashmere, I am so very sorry. Too much death. Too little time.
Gud, the kids are adorable, as always.
One class down, two (one with an exam) to go. I should go study, huh?
What a strange weekend. Friday, the most chaotic day with the big geek party, was actually the least frustrating. Saturday, as most know, I spent a large chunk with Amy at the doctor's getting her knee seen to. I have no updates for that, but she's supposed to call her regular doctor about that today. The doc Saturday was saying arthroscopic surgery might be necessary to clean things up. She was supposed to call yesterday, but I imagine she spent the day in bed with cats and drugs.
Yesterday, our madly doctor-phobic friend relented and let Hubby take him to a doctor about a very bad abscess on his leg. I bowed out of the trip, as I'd spent the day before at a doctor's and dislike spending my weekends in medical offices. Turns out Friend is a bit of a coward when it comes to pain, and getting it cleaned up was fairly painful. I know I shouldn't judge people by what Hubby and I can endure with just a grimace and a muttered swearword, but I couldn't help thinking "Whiner" whenever Friend complained.
This weekend was supposed to be my relaxing reward for coping with all the medical things this past month. Stupid weekend.
