A Peek at my Week: I'm on the Bullet Train to Assessment Street and a FREEBIE!

This is the last full week that I have before my Smarties take their ELA assessment.  Although my students haven't amped up the stress zone, this teacher has!

Part of my evaluation as a teacher is based on this test, which I think is ridiculous because I am not privy to information that is on the test.  Things that I think are important to emphasize in the CCSS may not be what politicians in the state believe should be important, but I'm not writing this post on my soap box.  I'm buckling my seat belt on the bullet train and hoping for a smooth ride into the station.
We have been reading and writing about informational text all year long.  Citing evidence and finding/discussing the central idea or theme has been a huge component.  We've also talked about most of the figurative language pieces, but this week a colleague of mine reminded me about idioms.  They were on the test last year..something along the lines of "getting the job was the cherry on top."  Most of our students thought the story was about the girl liking cherries... and not about her accomplishments.  So this week in ELA we are going to focus on idioms.  It will also be a perfect segway for me to teach Poetry in April.  Luckily, this Educents bundle just came out, and it is packed with Poetry and Idioms
It is a total score for $10.99.  I think there are over $70 worth of products in it.  I really like these idiom cards by Jivey.  It matches the idiom with the real meaning.
I printed them multiple to a page and we are going to work in pairs to put them into our Word Work notebooks.  In the Educents bundle there are two different packs of idioms both of which have a matching practice.  I'll use those as a formative early in the week before I  hit them up with a few poems that contain idioms.  Then we will write about what the poem means and practice citing the evidence including idiom meaning.  I saw a really cool pack  about writing nonfiction poetry.  I think that will be an awesome part of our unit post test.  April is going to be a great month!

In Math, I have a little bit more time before the assessment, but I still haven't finished all of my curriculum yet.  Of course!  I'm doing Percentages this week.  I made a little freebie to practice percent of a number.  I'll be using it later in the week.  You can download it if you need something too.. just click on the picture.

I'm linking up with Mrs. Laffin's Laughings for a Peek at My Week.  Stop by and visit to see what other people are prepping for!

10 comments

  1. I might be a little stressed out for you Michele! Eek. I am sure you have done a fabulous job though getting those kids prepared for the big day!
    Deirdre
    A Burst of First

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  2. It's great that your students aren't stressed. I hope my kids keep it together for this last week of instruction before the test!

    Sarah
    MissKinBK

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  3. Wow! I am surprised that part of your evaluation is based on how your students do on the tests! This is not the case in my district.... yet! I love teaching idioms, but it doesn't seem fair to our ELL's to have them on state assessments! Good luck!

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  4. Love your analogy! Hate how they are tieing test scores to teachers' evals. Imagine if they did that to a doctbuttGo kick some butt!

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  5. Sending good thoughts your way this week Michele. I am using those idiom cards this week - actually off to laminate now : )
    Sorry about you team : (

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  6. Sending happy and positive thoughts to you and your kiddos as you get ready for testing! I'm sure you've done an excellent job to get them ready and they will do great! Have a happy week.
    Ana
    Mrs. Bentin's Blackboard

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  7. Good luck with your testing! I am right there with you when it comes to teacher evaluations being based on a test that you don't even see beforehand. Grrrr....

    So glad you could link up this week!
    Jennifer
    Mrs. Laffin's Laughings

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  8. I feel your pain...I'm on year three of half of my evaluation being based on students' test scores. I want to rip my hair out sometimes! Have a wonderful week before testing! xo
    Alison
    Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'

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  9. Hello! Stopping by to let you know that I have nominated you for the Sunshine Blogger award.

    Head on over to my blog to find out the details!

    Missy:)
    http://www.theadventuresofaclassyteacher.blogspot.com

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  10. Hey, Michele! Thank you so much for sharing this freebie! I would love for you to link it up at my TpT Spring Freebies Linky Party. Thank you!
    FlapJack Educational Resources

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Thank you for taking the time to comment. I will make every effort to respond back to you!

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