TAKS

TAKS=Texas Assesment of Knowledge & Skills

In Texas, we have this crazy thing called the TAKS test. Every child from 3rd grade on up takes it annually. It's like the achievement tests we had every year when I was a kid, only tougher, trickier, and so very anxiety-producing. The kids spend almost the entire 3rd grade year gearing up for this big test, learning ways to really do well on the test. The teachers don't get to teach a whole lot of 'real' curriculum because they're teaching the kids to pass this test all year. At a parent meeting a few weeks ago, Larry & I got to see a sample of last year's test (they can't show us this year's test, obviously). It's a bit shocking. This thing is HUGE. Longgggg reading passages followed by a page of questions that are written to try & trick the kids. If you've got a Gifted kiddo, the test is no big deal. But for the average kid, this test is a big anxiety producer.

There are 2 parts to it for the 3rd graders (Samuel's age). Today is the reading portion of the test. The math portion is at the end of April.

The biggest issue for the 3rd graders is this. If you don't pass the reading test, you don't pass 3rd grade!

Today is the reading test. If they don't pass the test today, they will be given a 2nd chance the day after the Math test in April. If they still don't pass it, they have to attend summer school & attempt to pass it then. So there are 3 chances to pass.

We're praying that we never have to make it to the 2nd testing date!!

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Editted to add:
When I picked the kids up after school, Samuel declared that he thinks he did "ok" on the test. And ya know what? I'll take "ok"! Now just to wait for the scores to come in!!