The END of the year...

Today I am wondering how many other schools in the United States will still be in session next week?? I know mine will and it's so frustrating! School in June should be outlawed even if we do miss 100 snow days. Anyway, whether you're already out or you get out tomorrow or you have to go all next week like me, we all know as teachers that the end of the year can be very frustrating!! This year, beginning May 3rd, our kids took 6 days of CATS testing, 3 days of Iowa testing, 5 days of MAP testing, 2 days of a tech assessment called Simple Assessment and for some of them a few finals. They are not only "tested-out".....they are "WORN-OUT"!!

So what does a teacher do for the last five days of school when grades have already been posted (per the office's request) without losing her mind? I have the answer my friends....the Cognitive Tutor. I know, it sounds crazy, but it sure worked for me today!! My kids know that we had to have grades posted yesterday. They know that the year is done despite the fact that they still have to come five more days. And somehow, when they walked in my classroom today and I said, "ok we're going to get on the Cognitive Tutor," not one of them complained. They got on, they started working, and they even asked for my help. They wanted to get farther.

I think for some of them it's like a video game they've been playing all year that they just want to get ONE more level on. And for others it's about not being bored to death. And for a few it might be about actually learning all they can before they get to high school next year, but it doesn't matter to me what motivates them...I'm just glad they like to work!!