Happy Friday!!!
I don't have much time today, but I wanted to post about this touchy subject because for The Derting's the stress of the dumb end of year testing has now diminished...and before we drift back to normal.....I wanted to share.....
This has been a crazy, stressful week for many of us parents out there not to mention how our kids feel.....(an EOG is an end of grade test for 3rd-8th grades, an EOC is an end of course test for 9th-12th and now the good ol' state has added NC Finals for many courses 6th-12th)......all it truly means is STRESS, STRESS, STRESS..............
I know first hand from the teacher perspective how important "the test" is.....it says how "good" or "bad" you are as a teacher, your students scores measure the performance how good you have been teaching all year, right???....BUT this week I got the parent perspective as well.....Wednesday was the 1st day Bryson took his 1st ever EOG in Reading.....needless to say Tuesday night was difficult and Wednesday morning was worse.....tears were shed in fear of this piece of paper that he thought determined his fate F.O.R.E.V.E.R!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I often told my students......that I, Alysha Derting, FAILED...BIG FAT F.....3rd grade tests, 4th grade test, 5th grade tests....etc!!! I attended summer school in 3rd grade to "try" and increase my poor score.....and honestly all I remember was playing Oregon Trail on the computer most of the summer! I was not a strong student, I was not even a good student...I struggled ALWAYS.....failed geometry in HS, failed a spanish or 2 in college, failed college algebra.....twice! Y'all it took all I had to take a test and barely make a passing grade.....so Wednesday when my very own 9 year old.....cried in fear of going to school.....................I was FURIOUS! School is not the easiest for Bryson....he has pushed all year to work towards the highest reading group.....why? Because he had a goal to make it there....and last week he finally did!
I am so serious when I say.....SCHOOL IS HARD....THE TESTS ARE HARDER AND ITS JUST NOT FAIR! There is no reason why babies....3rd and up, should worry themselves sick over a dang test! I try to share my story whenever I get the opportunity......I failed 3rd grade and was graciously "passed" on because I attended summer school....BUT did that impact my whole life, NO, was I devastated that I could never pass college algebra, YES, BUT am I THANKFUL FOR each and every one of those challenges....ABSOLUTELY! If I had an easy road, I would not be doing what I do today, I would not have the personal aspect to share with others....that life is going to be okay, if you don't pass....the world will continue to turn no matter what the test score is!
So although I am over the moon that my boy just killed his first EOGs......I am sad for those sweet babies that face retakes of that awful ol' test....sad that they have to deal with it AGAIN!
All I can say is.....the test is one day, one day in a big lifetime of days, its a way to show what you know, but its not a way to destroy if what you know isnt shown!!!
Congratulations to everyone that was successful on the EOGs this week.....just smile and move on to those that were not as successful and remember.....tomorrow is a new day and when you are 33 that test you weren't successful on will not mean a thing!!!
Much Love,
***Praise your babies for each and everything....that can make or break them!
Alysha
