Testing Prep

[lifelearningrn]

How common is it for schools to spend months prepping for state tests? Since January, 3, 4, and 5th grade have been either mock testing or spending most days doing test prepping..

Also- kids in my school (Pre-K through 5th) get only two recesses per week and 1 PE class a week (many kids don't even get PE if they're identified as needing extra reading/math prep).. there is no music and art is only for PreK and Kinder (once weekly). My school is title one and very poor-- and the administrator seems to be more focused on "data" than the well being of the students. Also- we have no guidance councilors or social workers.

Everything in my being screams this school is being run against ALL research on the well being and devolpment of children... but being my first year in a school maybe I've just been clueless all these years about the state of public school??

[OyWithThePoodles, RN]

Our testing started today. I've only had three kids in my office-one a daily med.

So what have I done to pass the time? Besides AN of course...

Eat. And Eat. And Eat Some More.

I've had 4 chocolate donuts, a mini cup of cheese pringles, a min cup of sour cream and onion pringles, a pack of starburst, a bag of skinny pop popcorn, all BEFORE lunch.

"Have a bag of snacks for testing" they said... "You'll need it" they said. Like a hole in the head. My snack bag will be empty before the day is over.

[Farawyn]

Older kids have APs. Younger kids carry on as usual, so I've been busy.

Any school that does not have PE and music (or recess at the younger levels) is shooting itself in the foot.

[GdBSN, RN]

Our testing started today. I've only had three kids in my office-one a daily med.

So what have I done to pass the time? Besides AN of course...

Eat. And Eat. And Eat Some More.

I've had 4 chocolate donuts, a mini cup of cheese pringles, a min cup of sour cream and onion pringles, a pack of starburst, a bag of skinny pop popcorn, all BEFORE lunch.

"Have a bag of snacks for testing" they said... "You'll need it" they said. Like a hole in the head. My snack bag will be empty before the day is over.

The problem is...there is nobody for you to go to when you have a stomach ache.

[abc123RN]

Our testing started today. I've only had three kids in my office-one a daily med.

So what have I done to pass the time? Besides AN of course...

Eat. And Eat. And Eat Some More.

I've had 4 chocolate donuts, a mini cup of cheese pringles, a min cup of sour cream and onion pringles, a pack of starburst, a bag of skinny pop popcorn, all BEFORE lunch.

"Have a bag of snacks for testing" they said... "You'll need it" they said. Like a hole in the head. My snack bag will be empty before the day is over.

I'm coloring!! Four office visits so far on this testing day. I HATE TESTING!!

[OyWithThePoodles, RN]

The problem is...there is nobody for you to go to when you have a stomach ache.

True... Maybe I'll take a snack induced nap on the cot.

I'm coloring!! Four office visits so far on this testing day. I HATE TESTING!!

I finally had one kiddo with a 101 temp, called home. "Yeah we knew she was sick but we wanted to get her through testing." Great...

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

I see more kids on testing days, just during different times. Testing time can be quiet, but I know when the first break hits, because I will see several kids in a row.

That being said, we are the mist of state testing - which is not really spread out and has the MS kids taking 3 tests 3 weeks back to back. But, our kids get gym 1x week, Art 2x week, and the MS kids got 1st period set aside as a flex block of sorts (during which they often do community building), with their first actual class starting at 9 AM. They did this because students with extra time on tests were being pulled from specials (Gym, Art) and that was not good for the student.

In the HS, they added a Flex period to the day for this as well; if not needed for testing, HS students have a study and during 1 quarter a year, 1 day a week, I use that flex block to teach a health class (a simple pass/fail) to each grade level.

The students test well regularly on the state tests.

But, yep, I also get parents sending sick kiddos in a testing day because it is a testing day. I had to send one of the kids home today - on a testing day. Honestly, it is easier for them to miss the test day (we have make-up days scheduled), than to to start the test, then have to stop. Because for some tests, if they start and have to stop, they can't finish and gah, it would be easier to come to the make-up day really...

[coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN]

I worked at a Title I school and they start earlier in the year (early to mid August) so that State testing does not fall during AP testing.

But there's still full PE and music/arts.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

The problem is...there is nobody for you to go to when you have a stomach ache.

I do monthly "cot tests", 3 hours on each cot to make sure they are functioning properly. Great for those party days when you get the overindulgence nausea.

[OyWithThePoodles, RN]

I do monthly "cot tests", 3 hours on each cot to make sure they are functioning properly. Great for those party days when you get the overindulgence nausea.

I like this, but I only have one cot. Maybe I should do three hours with the pillow at one end, and three hours with it at the other end. Just to even things up.

[OldDude]

I'm like Jen-Elizabeth. My visits just get rearranged on testing days...until the end of the day crescendo when everyone is outside for recess until dismissal...then that's when I get tested :***: