Eli Guest Post #4: Thoughts on State tests

Ah, state tests. The thing every child aged 10 to 18 loves to hate. In Washington State, our lovely test is called the WASL: the Washington Assessment of Student Learning. I have long Loathed this test for a few reasons:

1. It's a big test
2.You have to answer the questions in a certain way that turns the flexibility of our thinking to that comparable to a twig.
3. Teachers center their whole curriculum around it, for it is the test that they want us to pass.

Today I read in the newspaper that they are trying to get rid of the WASL for good. YAY!!! They are planning to put a shorter, computerized test into action instead, which will take half the time of the WASL. Sounds great, huh? well, let's see the pros and cons:

Pros:

No more WASL
Takes half as long
20% less of the quiz is extended response
The title will not be Acronym-ized
Computers are generally more fun
We get our test back twice as soon

Cons:

No matter what you call it, it's still a state test
Only one week of no homework (for the most part)
It will take several years fo this to go into action
You must still pass them to move on in life

What do YOU think about state tests? This is an appeal to all parents, teachers, and students who read this: Tell me your opinion on state testing and what needs to happen with it. Also tell me if you're a teacher, student, or mom/dad posting: the source of the opinion matters, too.

Independence Day

These two have always been double trouble. I love it when I happen upon them using their independence for good. Jack had just poured the leftover smoothie from this morning's breakfast for he and Lily...Then he joined her at the cutting board to cut up a pear, their new favorite snack. The floor may be dirty but these two are so proud of themselves.

Snowed in!

Basically we've been snowed in since December 18. We woke up to over 17 inches of snow in a 24 hour period. School was cancelled and Christmas break started early. Since that time it's snowed over 60 inches which is a record for our area. We typically don't even get that much snow in a winter. We went several days without mail and our gargbage man hasn't come in three weeks. We've spent hours shoveling, trying to dig out. Last night the County Sheriff closed all schools because the sidewalks are covered in snow and the snowberms are so high one can't see around them. It's looking like a pajama day around here.