Monday, May 1, 2017

Standardized Testing - Sheesh

Time is flying by. Ayden Jane is loving Pitolisant and her fast brain. She is still getting used to her new super powers so will only continue to improve her skills but she is learning at an amazing rate.

Tomorrow is the SC Ready test. It is South Carolina's standardized testing. Being in 3rd grade it is Ayden Jane's first exposure to such a testing situation. She is a nervous wreck. I think hearing about it and all the hype surrounding it, but never actually having had the experience is hard. It's hard for all of them!

She has been working on something called a text dependent analysis (TDA) for the past few weeks. It is hard but she absolutely gets it. Now it's just time to pray she does not freeze up. Typically she reads the story and likes to talk about it. Then she can organize her thoughts enough to get it all put together and written down. Tomorrow there will be no talking through and if she gets 'stuck' it's going to be ugly.

As she worked through things last night she asked me if she forgot to put in comma's or something if they would still grade her paper. Sounds crazy doesn't it. Here is how it works. Teacher reminds the students (remember, 3rd grade) that they need to use their neat handwriting. She tells them if whoever is scoring the paper cannot read their handwriting they will simply not score it. Yep... Ayden Jane took the leap that if she misses anything, as in anything less than perfection and her paper will be thrown away. Then she asks me if it is okay if she gets a couple wrong. Ummm yes, dear. Just do you best and show what you know. There will be some questions you do not know. Just take your time and be sure to get the ones you know right.

Her teacher is going to give the kids 'breakfast' before the test. It's a great idea for 99 percent of the class... guess who it is just adding more excitement/stress to.

All in all I'd say Ayden Jane is half nervous and half excited. Yep. Excited. I mean... it's an opportunity to work hard and accomplish a goal. That's right up her alley. Hopefully she will still be exited the 2nd and 3rd days!

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