Least favorite week of the year...

Excuse me while I take a break from my creative endeavors (yes, I know it is only day 2!)  I have to vent about my coming week... the least favorite week of the year for me.  It is state testing week here in Illinois, the dreaded ISAT week.

With the passing of No Child Left Behind, states are now required to create assessments that will determine if students and schools are making "Adequate Yearly Progress"  Let me put that in real speak- we have to give kids a single, week long, test to determine if they have learned anything.  Any educator will tell you that there is no way that a single test can really measure the progress a student makes in a year.  Nevermind the fact that my students are several years below grade level as documented by individual testing and are now required to take a test at grade level.

Each year I have the ethical dilemma at this point.  While I am in fact teaching to the state standards as required- I am doing it at an appropriate level for my students.  I teach to another document- the Individualized Education Plan that is also a federal document.  I choose to teach them the skills that will make them successful in life and in school and NOT teach to the test.  I have prepared them for the test in the past several weeks, but I am worried that I didn't cover everything I should have.  But I know in my heart that I have done all that I can.

So I have to step back and spend the rest of this week encouraging and supporting my kids while they take a test that I don't beleive in, but whose scores determine state funding and the success of my program.  I have to put a test in front of them that is above their reading level and tell them I can't help them read it.  I have to ask them to complete math tasks that are well above their documented ability level.  We'll just all have to do our best. 

Let's just say there are lots of treats and praise over the next week!

Creativity Project

So I am trying once again to participate in a challenge... you can find more information about the Creativity Project by clicking on the picture on the side of my blog. It will take you to Lisa Day's blog where she explains all about this project.

I have learned that I *need* creative time in order to be healthy and happy. Yes, scrapbooking and paper crafts are my hobby, but doing something creative is essential to my health. I know that sounds a little dramatic, but it is really true. Creative play time is my stress relief, my energizer, my fresh air, and so much more. Too often, I let the day to day stuff overtake my life and I don't make the time to be creative. I recently asked a friend to hold me to being creative every Thursday night. I am happy to say that I have been doing that MOST Thursdays. I am taking this challenge one step further by doing something creative EVERY day for the month of March. It doesn't have to be something big, or even paper related.

So today is the first day and I am happy to say that I have finished a baby gift for a good friend and have made a birthday gift for my assistant. I have realized that one of the greatest joys I find is creating things for other people. Creating the baby gift was actually therapeutic for me in a way. I needed to do this. I hope that the mom to be likes it! I am not going to post a photo here until I have given it to her. Wouldn't want to ruin her surprise. :)

So.. check out Lisa's challenge and try to bring some creativity into your day to day!