Domain IV: Rights and Responsibilities
Elaboration:
This week is ISTEP week. It makes for a long week for both the students and the children. Luckily, we only have it today and tomorrow. However, for the next two days I think I will take it a little easier on the children as far as work. I also am not taking away recess for homework. I think that especially during this time, it is important that they have the chance to unwind. I can tell many of the children are also worried or stressed about the test. Unfortunately, this is a responsibility that cannot be avoided.

Analysis:
I think as I look towards the future, I have to think about how I will approach ISTEP. I frequently hear teachers all over the building telling children that they need to know something for ISTEP. While I don't think it's wrong to prepare them, it can too easily become the focus. I have even caught these words coming out of my own mouth a few times. I think that integrating test taking strategies into a curriculum is a great idea. However, tests are not always the best form of assessment. I have been trying to find ways to incorporate other authentic assessments to go along with tests. The only problem that I have found is that children often struggle transferring a skill from a test to a real situation or the other way around.