Thoughts on State Assessments

When preparing for State assessment this year, my class used the Read, Write, and Talk - Stop Think and React strategy. The students read an article on Testing Tips. The student jotted down their thinking as they read the article. The kids did a great job of stating their opinions throughout the article. Next they wrote thick and tin questions in the margins of the article. The students did a great job of asking thought provoking questions. They asked things like, "Why do the teachers get so worried about the tests?" and "Why is the government involved in what we are doing in our classroom?" The discussion that followed was very interesting and beneficial! It really helped my students relax before the tests began.