ISTEP

Well, it finally came--the last day to take ISTEP! Since Monday, the day I had a student "meltdown" (literally tears dropping on her desk--quietly of course--the worst kind to see), my class had done nothing but read and write. So, of course this last day, when they are given 67 minutes to read 2 passages and answer questions on each, I had several complete this portion of the test in 10 minutes. I personally can't blame them. As an adult I would have a problem testing 4 days in a row for at least an hour a day, let alone expecting 8 and 9 year olds to do the same with quality work. It just seems, that there could be a better way---I don't mind the concept, but it seems this time the tests are geared to (trick) rather than assess.