I hate grades.  I love assessment. But I HATE grades.  You may be thinking to yourself, ‘but grades are assessment you silly goose’….. false.  Assessment should be (in my opinion) a tool used to inform teachers about where they need to improve so that their students can improve.  Little Timmy got a D, not because he’s stupid, but because, for one reason or another I couldn’t figure out how to reach him as a learner.  I know, I know, how am I supposed to reach every single kid in exactly the way they need to reached, I’m working on it, but the general idea of using a variety of strategies is an attempt at that.

Also, I’m not sure if the D Timmy got should count against him, especially if it’s because his teacher is ineffective.  It’d be one thing if little Timmy OK wait

I hate grades and rating kids so much I don’t even want to complain about it anymore or explain myself.. I’d rather talk about what I do like because that makes my heart soar like a little eagle.

If I didn’t have a cacamayme schedule to hold to and all these freaking report cards to turn in I’d be able to lolligag with my kids and take more time with things we sometimes have to gloss over.

Example: When discussing Iroquois government I was subject to the following fifth grade train of thought (and I loved it)

The Iroquois were a democratic society.  What’s the difference between Democrats and Republicans?  How are presidents in the States elected?  Why is the system so complicated? Which one is Obama?  Did you know somebody threaten to assassinate him? Somebody’s always saying they’re gonna kill the president.  Is it true that JFKennedy was shot from a hotel?  No that was Martin Luther King, JFK was shot in a car, in a parade.  Were you there?! No, but if I was I would have remembered it forever.  How do you mean remember it forever?  There are some moments in history that you witness and you’ll never forget where you were when you found out it happened.  Like…in 9-11?? Exactly.  Did you know the Ticos who worked at the Center were OK because they were late?  We’re always late to everything.

But I had to cut it short because the Iroquois were calling out to me “Remember the test you need to give about us next Tuesday and how important it is.”  It is all important…. but that’s the problem, all of it matters and there’s just not enough time to get to it all.  Someone, somewhere, ravaged the annals of history and knowledge and picked certain topics as the “it” topics.  Que triste.

My other new favorite moment, that could have potentially led to a lawsuit in the States was a discussion about the formation of the Solar System.  As I illustrated and explained the textbook scientist theory of how it all went down one of my more rambunctious kids raised his hand and asked, quite earnestly “But didn’t God make it?”  Well crap kid, I think so, but shoot, way to leap into theological waters.  So I had to tread lightly and explain different people believe different things.

Kids can get you between a rock and a hard place sometimes, but I think if you can maneuver tactfully and kindly with respect towards all parties involved it should turn out OK the end.  I just find myself wanting to discuss things that aren’t on the checklist.  Hm……..  I wonder how I can sneak things into the curriculum without detracting from what the state wants me to do….