I officially have two more weeks with my 7th graders. The ELA Exam is less than two weeks away. We have been reviewing like crazy and I think they have had it. Next week comes the big review stuff. We will be sticking directly to the testing format and completing several different test-structured practices, such as listening and taking notes, editing a paragraph for grammar and useage mistakes and of course, everyone's favorite- note the sarcasm- reading comprehension passages with multiple choice questions. I have been trying a different approach this year. I have seen my kids become somewhat apathetic to the idea of taking this test. It's been difficult to find motivators. Now that I am leaving, they don't even care at all. They are simply looking forward to someone new stepping in and starting all over again.
I asked my 5th period class to create their own multiple choice questions, modeled after the 1000s of samples we have examined this year. Some of them really took to this assignment and created thoughtful inferential questions. Others offered up the easiest multiple choice questions I have ever seen. I thought this activity would help them gain a different perspective on the test. They were confused at the start, but slowly created and discussed some key text features. I am not worried about this section of kids. It's some of my others who have been floundering all year I'm really worried about.
They can read. They can write. They are beginning to develop key critical thinking skills. They will be able to express themselves and listen and respond to important works and speech- but they may not receive a 3 on this stupid, one day examination of their knowledge for the past 7 years. I guess I am a little more nervous than I thought. Ideas?
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