The 2013-2014 school year is done, and what a year this was! Thirteen snow days and six 2-hour delays were unexpected- enjoyable at times, yet frustrating as we added time to the day and days to the year. Believe me when I say, teachers are just as excited about snow days as are their students. My cell phone constantly dinged with messages of excitement and joy at the opportunity to go back to sleep or just relax for a day…or thirteen days.
The joy of these snow days turned into stressful times once SOL testing started. Yes, the dreaded MONTH of SOL testing. Thankfully, the Virginia Dept. of Education, as well as PWCS, understood the loss of instructional time from the snow days and extended the testing window. After my school readjusted the testing calendar, I had one extra week to continue teaching. ONE WEEK! I felt like I had won the lottery!
Civics is a tough subject for 8th graders. Not only is much of the content abstract, it can be a subject that does not interest teenagers. I do everything I can to make politics, government, citizenship, the courts and economics exciting and fun. On the first day of school, I relay this message to my students: “If you pass my SOL test, that’s great. If you don’t, that’s okay. I want you to walk out of here on the last day of school remembering three things:
1.You have a voice, and it is okay to use it.
2. It is essential that you give back to your community.
3. You better darn well vote when you turn 18.
Tuesday, June 10 – 8th grade Civics SOL test day! We were ready! Curriculum complete – CHECK. Study guides distributed and in-class review sessions held – CHECK. Fun, competitive, after school review session held – CHECK. WE WERE READY! MY STUDENTS WERE READY!
My students showed up, took the test, and we made it through the day. After three sections of testing and 189 students tested, I was beat! Scores were almost instantaneous! What resulted was a shock! Um?
Fail…Pass/Advance…Fail…Pass/Proficient…Perfect…Fail…Fail…Fail?!?! What was this I was seeing? FAIL??? Surely, Pearson did something wrong! My students knew the material and were ready; they were not supposed to fail! But, alas, I had many students not pass the Civics SOL test.
I was heartbroken for my students! There is nothing worse than telling a child they failed an SOL test. The look of disappointment in their faces is indescribable.
As I began my data analysis and reflection, I couldn’t help but blame myself. Although I constantly remind myself that a number…a score…does not define me as a teacher, I couldn’t help but think I had done something wrong this year. Was it the loss of instructional time due to snow days? I finished my curriculum, but so many fun things were taken out. Was it the fact that, at my school along with many of the middle schools on a block schedule, social studies is only every other day? I see my students approximately 90 days for the whole year. Thirteen snow days seriously hindered my instructional time. Was it the way I taught a particular topic? Was it the make-up of my students? After hours of reflection, I decided it was everything!
As the end of the school year came to a close, and I began the tedious act of packing up my room, I brought home the resources I needed to revamp my curriculum and make it better for next year. What could I do differently? What did I need to modify to make sure my students learned the material? It was then that I received a letter from a student that changed my outlook as a teacher. The letter goes something like this:
Ms. O’Casey…On the first day of school, I remember you saying your goal was to change a student’s life. I want to let you know that you did it. You achieved your goal. I’ve never liked school; this year has been a struggle going every day. But your class always put me in a good mood. I actually enjoyed going. You put humor in education. Another thing; I am a very opinionated person and the debates we had were great because I was able to express my beliefs on important subjects. You changed my life because you gave me a different perspective on school. Green days would have been terrible without your class. I’m really glad I had the opportunity to be in your class, and I will miss your humor and support in high school. You’re a good teacher. I’ll be thinking about you when I change the world for the better.
All of my worries, my doubts as a teacher immediately disappeared. I didn’t care about my scores because I accomplished more than what a number says about me as a teacher. I had accomplished what I set out to do as a teacher – change a life!
Fellow educators, although it’s very hard to not think about the importance of SOL scores, remember that a number does not define you as a teacher.
Have you received a letter or a note from a student that inspired you to keep going? A note that said, “You changed my life?” Please share in the comments section; we all need to read something positive. Educators do incredible, amazing things every day – we change lives!
Support Bristow Beat - Donate Today!