Testing Agony

After a frustrating and upsetting few days last week, I had an uplifting Monday! As expected, our public education has really been getting to me. All I really need to say is...testing-- why should my student that is blind and reading 5 levels below grade level have to suffer through hours and hours of testing (on grade level) material that she cannot even comprehend. As soon as she understands the importance in trying her best and witnessing her own success, she is let down. She recognizes that I do have high expectations for her and she, therefore, wants to work for me (she even told me that she practiced her spelling words in her sleep in order to prove to me that she studied at home). Then she has to sit through 5 days of me testing her on material that has no meaning to her and that only shows that she is a failure. Enough said.

After many lectures and optimistic discussions on her future, I think we can move on. We were able to laugh our way through some of the agony-- spilling my water bottle all over the reading test, arguing over celebrity marital statuses, cooking grilled cheese sandwiches and watching my student use a toaster oven for the first time.

Another struggle of mine is wanting to provide my student with everything fun and helpful that she needs and wants! Here are some of those tangible and non-tangible items:
1. hot chips- These seem to be the new trend for kids. You are way cool if you have money to buy them at lunch and share them with friends.
2. peppermint patties- I discovered today that we share this common favorite!
3. snakeskin boots with spurs- except her mom said she could never own those (not quite sure where she got the idea that she wanted them)
4. Justin Bieber CDs- I hear enough about him daily
4. apple corer- I have finally discovered one healthy food item that she enjoys, but braces and whole apples don't go well together. An apple corer is the solution!
5. a quiet place to do homework with someone to assist her
6. opportunities to play outside in this beautiful Dallas weather (80 degrees, sunny, and no clouds in the sky in October- couldn't ask for anything better)- All I hear about is Disney channel shows and movies and that she is not allowed to go outside

Even after another day of testing, I was told, "You make my life more positive, Ms. Alvis!"