Standardized Tests
Last May, my then-second-grader took his first STAR test. And then this autumn he took the OLSAT. He's also taken some other assessment tests here and there, and one recent exam prompted the teacher to say she didn't believe the results because so many of her otherwise high-achieving students seemed to have scored low. She then mentioned that the computer teacher who gave the tests provided heavy incentive to finish quickly. Rushing through an exam does nobody favors.
I remember the whole standardized test ritual fondly. Sure, we parents moan about how it isn't really an accurate assessment of our kids, and wonder how schools can be given funding based on a number. We worry about cultural differences and how sometimes a very intelligent student might get an answer incorrect because he or she recognizes nuances in the question that the very people who created the exam may not have. Most of all, we worry about "teaching to the test;" the fact that an education based on multiple choice has little to do with the real world.
But I thought it was fun.

The start of last week was tough. It was really tough. Lots of work to do, lots of "extracurricular" hassle, and in general just a tiring time. (Plus it was raining - great for our drought, not great for the rapidly growing weeds in our too-fertile soil or for very energetic boys who appreciate the outdoors.)
It has been rainy out. So rainy that if I didn't have a 10k on Saturday, I'd probably not consider running in the wet weather. If I hadn't already signed up for the race, I'd probably not. But I figured this would happen, so planned ahead.

Thursday afternoon the Cat asked me, "Are those chips okay?" and I had no idea what he meant. "You know, I figured the cheese wouldn't be okay, but I ate the crackers that came with them." he continued.
For those of you who are forced to watch SpongeBob, remember that song "It's a Per-FECT Daa-aay!"** ? Well, Splig was pretty much singing that tune on Friday. 






