So, today was the first of two PASS testing days in March. Fifth and eighth grade students throughout the great state of South Carolina are required to take a two-part writing test today and tomorrow. Today, 5th grade students wrote a personal narrative in response to a prompt using less than two pages (single sided) for their final draft. Tomorrow they will do a multiple choice section that involves editing and grammar skills.
As much as this test is stressful for the students, it can be even more stressful for us teachers. Having the writing test so long before the end of the school year means that we have to cram as much writing content into the first three quarters as possible, and pray we did enough. While I understand the written tests take far longer to score, and this is often given as a rationale for giving the test so early, it is still difficult for the students and teachers to return back to the normalcy of everyday learning after such an abrupt departure into the realm of test-dom.
I'm so thankful that today, while having its many minor hiccups, went relatively smoothly. My students seemed overall to be very intent on doing their best, even the ones who don't like to write. So, while I'm still slightly stressed about the second day of testing tomorrow, I'm resting in the strength of the Father which brought me through today, and which will bring me through tomorrow as well.
Still have a busy afternoon and evening ahead. I'm typing this as I'm about to head into the gym to workout, then FPU tonight as well. I won't be getting home until around 8:30, and then it will still be several more hours before I actually hit the hay. But I'm so glad that there are only 8 more days of school until spring break, and only one more day of PASS!
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