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Blog: FCAR
Speakout
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...Preparing for FCAT
It is the day before my fourth graders start their FCAT testing. I am a
little tired because I spent last night running through the list in my head. It
was the list of all the chapters in math that I needed to review because I
didn't have enough time to teach an entire 4th grade curriculum before March,
the test's key words for "main idea" questions, the format for a long response
answer, the outline for short response answer, to remind them to carefully watch
their bubbling, to make sure they didn't write outside the box, and the list
kept playing.
I started the morning with the pledge and silent reading while I got my act
together for the day. Some of the students wanted to finish their power point
presentation on the computer, but I had to tell them there wasn't enough time to
get into that; we have so much to do today!
After we were organized, I had the class work on a sample reading test. They
were so good. They were patient and concentrated without complaining for the
entire 40 minutes. After they finished, they wanted to take a break and play a
game. I told them, "this is too important, we need to get through the last of
these practice tests, FCAT is tomorrow guys!" I hated myself for saying it
because I didn't think FCAT was important and they deserved a game. I convinced
myself that after this is all over, I would make it up to them and make school
fun again.
I let them munch on their snacks while I read the passage out loud and we went
over the answers. For every answer we would stop justify it, verify it in the
text and move on. The long response answers took even longer. I know the kids
dreaded going over those because they begged me to save them for last. I didn't
blame them; they were boring!
Soon after we finished reading we went to lunch, it was a nice mental break. The
last thing I felt like doing was going back to class for the math portion of the
day.
For the rest of the day we practiced math, problem by problem on the overhead. I
couldn't bear to make them sit silently and work out math problems again, so we
did it as a class. I knew that in less than 24 hours all they would be doing is
sitting silently and working anyway.
At the end of the day we had to set up for FCAT. We spread their desks out and
arranged them so there would be no cheating. I had to take down every piece of
material from my walls and boards so they won't be able to find a graphic
reference. For home work, a reading packet of sample tests and a math packet of
the same. Before they left, I told them how wonderful they were and how proud I
was of their hard work.
Tomorrow will be a big day for these little munchkins. As they have been
reminded all year, this test is what we have been waiting for, and it is a top
priority to pass.
As for me, I feel their pressure. So tonight, I will prepare my running list of
all the things I can and can't say to them during the test and all the things I
need to remind them about before they take the test.
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