There’s always a downside to testing, whether it is MAP testing or state standardized testing. The one thing that I have enjoyed about our standardized testing is the ability to take the kids out to the ballfield and let them run around after sitting so quietly for so long. MAP testing isn’t like that.

Our MAP testing is treated much like the state testing. We hold our homerooms in one contained space until everyone on our hallway has completed testing. Some kids read faster than others. Some just like to take their sweet time and eat the clock up.

When you have an honors class for homeroom, you know that the kids are going to take the entire time. You may have a few exceptions. Very few. Then you have those who do not care about their score, and those are the ones who finish in 15 minutes before driving you slowly insane.

Imagine my surprise when those particular students show in my 3rd period class. We actually still saw all of our classes, but for 37 minutes each. Except 3rd period. 3rd period I also had for lunch which was an extra hour. These students came into the classroom at full speed, and when I looked back into the classroom, I saw several running across the tops of the desks. The tops!

Several apologized because they stated they had “run out of my medicine” which is code for I’m about to act stupid and I don’t think I can control it.

They were loud.

They couldn’t sit still.

They couldn’t remember anything past 15 seconds (if that much).

One student who has a farm is planning to bring me a cowbell tomorrow because my little bell doesn’t get over the din.

At lunch, we all hurried up and ate, and I took them outside and told them to run around the courtyard to burn off some energy.

It still wasn’t enough.

After today, I’m tired. Dog tired. I’m glad that they decided to space it out, but that means another round of this on a Monday. Oh. My. Goodness!

I think I’ll need nerves of steel on Monday.

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