This time of year is like the Super Bowl for teachers. It is the "Big Show". I hate that. It is one day that puts a scarlet number on me and my students. Testing is boring. I stare at the same kids and silently pray over every single one of them by name. I pray that they ate a good breakfast, that they have a snack, that they remember EVERY SINGLE THING we have ever done in class, that they use their strategies. Then I remember... I am but one teacher, that has had then for less than one year, and they are 11 and 12 years old. So from that reality I wrote them this letter to read with their parents the night before the test.
Dear Ones,
Tomorrow is your science STAAR test. I know we haven't talked about it very much. In general we don't talk about tests very much anyways. Testing is important. It tells me what you understand and what I need to provide you more support in. At the end of a test there is always a score.
A score is a number. It is not a memory of a lab that we did together. It is not your complete understanding of science. It does not define you as a student. It does not define me as a teacher. It does not represent the work of your family on vocabulary each week.
It is just one small glimpse into your schooling in science. It will not keep you from going to 6th grade. You will not retake the test if you are not successful on it the first time. Most teachers would say I am crazy for telling you this because this could give you the impression that you can blow this test off. I believe better of you than that. I have instilled better values in you than that and so have your families.
Tomorrow is an opportunity to give your very best effort. I expect and demand nothing but your best effort. When the scores come in I will ask you honestly if you gave your best effort. If you can say that you did, then it doesn't really matter what the number is because I asked for your very best and you gave that to me. Have enough pride in yourself and your own learning to not cheat yourself out of being successful by blowing the test off. You are better than that.
Furthermore, your STAAR test is over Thursday. Do not get that confused with the end of the school year. We have more time together. There are more hugs to be had, more projects to be presented, more concepts to learn, and more labs to complete. Show up Friday ready to work.
I am putting a snack and a note in each of your testing classrooms for you all. Be sweet tomorrow. Respect your exhausted teachers and your bored classmates. Give your best. I am cheering you on my dear ones.
Love you dearly and most sincerely,
Mrs. G
