The Plan and Explore tests

Tuesday was testing day so I didn’t teach my eighth grade class. One would think there would be little for me to report on this day because it is pretty boring watching students take tests all day. In reality however, this was one of the most stressful and upsetting days that I’ve had since student teaching. Our sophomore homeroom class was testing in our classroom for three hours and although they were told many times, by multiple teachers about the importance of these tests, as well as the rules for taking the tests, there were multiple students who didn’t take it seriously and decided to talk to their neighbors, read a book instead of take the test, and create unnecessary noise just to spite either the test or my coop, maybe even the whole system of education…I don’t know. They were simply rude and defiant just to be defiant. I couldn’t believe it! I realize that these test are not the actual ACT tests, but it has been strongly stressed to these students that they are important and that they have to work independently and quietly. I don’t understand why they acted in this way but it was extremely frustrating and disappointing.

Wednesday: September 29
One Wednesday morning, both my coop and I talked to the sophomores about what happened during testing the day before. I brought up the point that even if these tests do not directly effect their admittance into college or scholarships, that they are a practice for the ACT and that by practicing certain behaviors during these tests they are more likely to demonstrate those same behaviors while they are taking the ACT. I am 100% positive that about four of the students would have had their tests taken away from them during the test period and the rest of the group might have had their tests taken away at the end of the time limit when tests were still out and they were instructed not to talk but did anyway. It was extremely disappointing to see them handle the situation so lightly, without care when the stakes are so high for them. The school has projected that this particular class will struggle even more that past tenth graders. There are 3-4 students projected to get a 20 on the ACT, out of the whole class.