Guess what the UPS man dropped off today? My new pencil sharpener! You know... the one EVERYONE has been talking about being the best sharpener ever invented?!? Well, friends...it is the Holy One of all pencil sharpeners. I actually enjoyed sharpening all of our pencils tonight. I'm hoping it's just as easy for the kiddos to use! Check them out at Classroom Friendly Supplies. They would make great Teacher Appreciation Gifts...or even gifts for new teachers! When I'm the boss, I think I'll order these for all of my teachers...they're that good! :)
Okay. Just a question...does anyone have to administer a Diagnostic Assessment when your district doesn't meet AYP? Here's the short version...apparently my district didn't meet AYP this year. Therefore, the state mandates that we administer the short version of the Diagnostic Test. It's a one-on-one assessment. There is a reading portion that has 2 questions asking the children to find antonyms, read 3 (VERY BASIC) sight words, read a short "story" that really isn't a story, do a retell of the "story" and then write a sentence that is dictated to them. The math portion has some money, counting backwards, a few number sentences, measuring a carrot in centimeters, fractions, and one graphing question. Each section usually takes between 8-10 minutes depending on the child. To top it all off, these results don't even go to the state. They get filed away so that if the state ever makes a visit up north and wants to see that we did them, we can pull them out. So basically, I just spent the last three days testing each of my kiddos for their results to only sit in a file. Grrr... (Not growling at my school district...just irritated with this state mandate. It's not even an adequate assessment!). Tomorrow I get to start the AIMS!
I love all of the new blogs I discovered this past weekend thanks to the Jackpot...but I need to really think about making time to keep up to date on everyone's posts. It was a little overwhelming tonight to open up my Google Reader and have almost 300 posts to read. I thought to myself that I really should "reduce"...but I just can't. There are so many amazing teachers out there, I just HAVE to know what everyone is up to!
Okay...not too exciting tonight but I had to let you know that those pencil sharpeners are the real deal...and vent a little bit! :)
Sweet Dreams!
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I'm going to have to stop down and see this pencil sharpener. The one I got last year is pretty amazing.., of course it is only a teacher only sharpener. I don't want it to get broken.
ReplyDeleteLove my sharpener, too! We didn't meet AYP a a couple of years ago, but we didn't have to give that test..just DIBELS every year..which I dislike greatly =)
ReplyDeleteJennifer
First Grade Blue SKies
Hi Jenn! Thanks for stopping by and leaving some love. It really cheered me up. :) When I student taught, the teacher had to administer a test very similar to that one (might have even been the same one because those questions sound familiar). I will have to look into that sharpener. I'm sure I'll use it when I get a classroom in the fall <----see thinking positive thoughts! haha. have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteSarah
funintitlemath.blogspot.com
PS. I didn't realize how close you are to me. Insider info...do you know of any openings that might become available at your school?
ReplyDeleteSarah
funintitlemath.blogspot.com
Hey Sarah...I'll post to your blog! :)
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