OK, I hate the emphasis placed on standardized testing in our schools. However...

[Pale Blue Dot]

I just found out that my students from this past year had the largest improvement in their test scores (in my subject area) in the entire city. In my first year of teaching!!!!!!!

WOO HOO!!!!!!

I am very, very happy that I made this career change. For all kinds of reasons.

:woohoo:

[bicentennial_baby]

1. Awesome!!

Well done, my friend! :bounce:

:)

[Pale Blue Dot]

6. Thank you. nt

[GOPisEvil]

2. Excellent! Good job!

You made the right choice!

[Pale Blue Dot]

7. You understand that this will make me even MORE unbeatable in Fantasy Football, right?

Don't ask why, just trust me; I'm a teacher. :D

[TZ]

9. Hey teach...I'm joining the fantasy football league

We'll see how good you REALLY are bud!
Excellent job, my friend! Now, if we could just clone you about a zillion times, I would feel much better about the future of this country!:applause:

[Pale Blue Dot]

10. I left a comment for you on the Fantasy Football site.

It regards your creativity. :evilgrin:

[TZ]

11. PFFT!

This means war ya know..I'm set to mock you on a regular basis....:evilgrin:

[QueenOfCalifornia]

3. Good for you

but I opted my kids out of the standardized testing because of several reasons....

But glad you did good!

[Pale Blue Dot]

8. I hate NCLB, and standardized testing

and I'm hoping that my success is (ironically) because I did NOT teach to the test.

[ThomCat]

4. That is wonderful!

I hope that their improvement is because you helped them all learn how to think about new things, and question, and explore. I hope you were able to put a lot more into the curriculum, and I hope they got a lot out of it. :)

[Pale Blue Dot]

5. I think I did.

I cared about the students, and I think (I hope) that that played a huge role (and I don't think it can be faked). But I also focused my lessons NOT on the tests, but on the concepts on the tests that I believe are important to learn whether one is tested on it or not. And I never once said "We're learning this today because it's going to be on the test."

I still think standardized tests are the wrong way to go in our schools, but tonight I'm going to enjoy the success.

[fortyfeetunder]

12. Congratulations for making a difference.

:applause: :hi:

[Pale Blue Dot]

13. I love my students.

I hope opportunities are available for them when they graduate from college.

[SarahB]

14. Because you rock in a thousand ways!

I love you, baby!