The Test that Determines My Future...

Want to know what is on my mind and has been on my mind for the past month nonstop? The GACE. While I understand the importance of this test, I can now totally relate to the elementary students who are stressing out about the CRCT and other tests that are weighted heavily. The moment that test was over, I felt a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders, but I was carrying around that weight for a good month or so which was extremely uncomfortable.

The test did drain me; I’m not going to lie. When I walked out and got home, I fell asleep and slept for so long. The thought of not passing this test will now be the weight on my shoulders for the next month, but I did everything I could to prepare for this test, so I feel like I could not do anything else!

I try to find the positive aspect from experiences like this one, which was hard for me to do! While stressing over the test and what will be on it, I realized, after the fact, that I had learned so much about history and science, and brushed up my mathematics and literature skills, that I was surprised about. I have now realized that science and social studies are not stressed enough in the schools, and I will teach these subjects when I have my own classroom. I was just thinking of the fact that I could not remember anything about wars, famous people, etc. and if I could not remember them, then why should I expect my students to remember them?! After taking this test, I have realized that I need to make sure that my lessons for my future classroom are meaningful so the students take a deeper understanding away from my lesson. I want my students to be able to remember all the information, not just to pass the GACE in their future, but to become well-rounded citizens that truly understand the world around them.