How Tests Test

I'm gonna go out on a limb and tell you that of all the weeks of school, of all the days special ed teachers suffer through (last day before Christmas break, last week of school, etc.) the weeks of state testing are the absolute WORST!

First, we don't get to choose the dates; this year, we're testing the day before (and after) Halloween, no matter what. Clearly, test organizers are heartless, maniacal sadists. I guess I should be grateful that all four days don't fall into a single week; we are testing again this week.

Second, we're testing brains (typical learners, as well as those with special needs) which have barely unfurled from a summer's worth of shriveling! Want to know what sixth graders know? Why not ask them in June, not November!

In particular, my students with special needs face questions that make them feel worthless, and there's nothing I can do (legally) to make it any easier. Calculators are not allowed on most parts of the math test, even if the student relies on them on a typical day, and very few of my students know their multiplication tables; it's really tough to watch a student "multiply" like this:

  8
  8
  8
  8
  8
  8
  8
+8

The testing schedules throw our entire days off; there is nothing "normal" about a testing days. Afternoon classes take place in the morning, morning classes take place after lunch. Even with printed copies of the altered schedules, my poor students and I don't know whether we're coming or going. This is especially hard on students with autism (and teachers who were up until 2:30am last Saturday). Students whose schedules are off get a little rowdy or crabby or confused or all of the above.

On testing days, a special ed teacher might get lunch, but the rest of the day is shot; students with special needs often require triple the time other students need to take the test, and that assumes that the student is cooperative, well-rested, there on the day of testing, and medicated, when necessary. I had one student take more than three class periods to finish one part of the reading test this year, because the kid could not maintain focus for more than 30 seconds, it seemed. Regular ed teachers do get a break when students are actually testing, but special ed teachers, who have to read tests to students, do not (except for the reading test, of course).

Of all the weeks in the year to send your child's teacher a thank you note, testing week is the one I recommend choosing. Especially when, like this week, testing also coincides with quarterly grades and report cards!

And you thought Halloween was scary.