Poptarts and pajamas help kids prepare for standardized tests:
At Sharpsburg Elementary, girls and boys giggled at each other's pajamas and slippers on the way to class Saturday morning. A couple of boys lugged boxes of Pop Tarts and fruit drinks to three classrooms, as about 30 fourth-graders settled into chairs or on sleeping bags and played "Survivor" and "Who Wants to be a Millionaire."
Teachers in pajamas were game show hosts, pulling questions out of pillowcases. The questions were from old Ohio proficiency tests and samples of the exams the students will take next month. Another class practiced for the math test by building geometric shapes with marshmallows and toothpicks.
Who says cribbing for standardized proficiency tests is dull?
Sharpsburg prepares its fourth-graders for next month's high-stakes, statewide tests by playing games on Saturday mornings.
It seems to be working. After three years of Saturday pajama parties, Sharpsburg went from not meeting statewide standards to meeting them all and earning an "excellent" designation last year, said Principal Brad Winterod.
Next up, "Truth or Dare" with math questions.
Posted by kswygert at February 22, 2005 10:01 AM