Well, Patriots,
It's everyone's favorite (insert heavy sarcasm here) time of year: Testing season! Summative testing is like that one weird dish (Brussels sprouts? Jell-o salad?) your Grandma makes that you have to eat every year at Thanksgiving. You may not always look forward to it, but you know it's important because it makes her happy.
Summative testing is just one of the ways that we measure how students are doing. We use the data to determine where we need to provide additional support and also to help celebrate some of the remarkable gains you've made this year.
Parents, this is your chance to channel your inner hype person and cheer on your student like they're about to bring home a championship trophy! Encourage them to do their best and give a good effort, but also that no matter what score they get, they are still an amazing human. Scores don't define them, but they can help teachers and parents know where they need support.
Patriots, you're the stars of this show! You've been working hard toward these tests all year and now you've got the opportunity to show off all your skills. You are smart, witty, and capable of pretty amazing things, so don't let these tests scare you. Remember, the results of these tests are just a snapshot of your progress. They don't define you, and they certainly don't fully measure your individual amazingness or how cool you are. They are a really good way to practice for bigger (and scarier) tests in the future! So if testing makes you a little nervous, consider these your practice ones to get ready for the big tests that will come later. Rather than avoiding it, or just "clicking through" the test, challenge yourself to try. We believe in you, and it's time you believe in yourself.
So, Patriots, take a deep breath, relax, and let's do this thing! If there's anything we've learned from watching you this year, is that you are capable of some pretty amazing feats. We have no doubt that Rise testing is going to be one more thing you can conquer!!
