Famous quotes about children...

"Pausing to listen to an airplane in the sky, stooping to watch a ladybug on a plant, sitting on a rock to watch the waves crash over the quayside-children have their own agenda's and time scales. As they find out more about their world and their place in it; they work hard not to let adults hurry them. We need to hear their voices."
-Cathy Nutbrown

"When children pretend, they are using their imagination to move beyond the bounds of reality. A stick becomes a magic wand. A sock can be a puppet. A small child can be a superhero.
-Fred Rogers

"No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship."
-James Corner

Please enjoy one of my favorite songs that can relate to the endless possibilities that children have. The song is titled "Unwritten", by Natasha Bedingfield

When a teacher comes across a student with overall great success academically, the child is often given a test to see if he or she is gifted. Being gifted is a label just as having a disability is. Children deserve to receive adequate services no matter the label.  I feel that all areas of the whole child should be assessed. Can the child comprehend an assignment and show classroom participation? Does the child sociaize well with other children? Does the child complete tasks on time? Does the child show respect for himself and others? Those are just a few things that are assessed throughout the school year in a public school. I feel these types of assessments are important because they help to mold a chind into a productive citizen. Standardized tests are also an assessment to show the progress or lack there of in students as well as teachers and school systems. Standardized testing can be good and bad. In Georgia, if you are a 3rd grader and you do not pass the reading portion of the Criteria Referenced Competency Test you are not promoted to the next grade. If you are a 5th grader and you fail reading, math or both, you are not promoted to the next grade. This test brings added pressure to the students, their parents, teachers, and the administration. In my opinion, some children should be exempt from the pressure of having to pass. Students that have english as a second language should be exempt. They are forced to take a test in english and they can barely speak english! Students that are labeled as special needs should be exempt as well. There is a child at my school that has autism. She bites, kicks, runs away, etc. I cannot imagine this child having to sit for an extended period of time. Bottom line is- SHE CAN'T! At the sam time, I feel that tests are important because educators need to know if the curriculum is working or needs to be revised.  Any issues should be detected and hopefully corrected by giving the child the help and assitance they need to succeed.

Check out the article on students in Japan! http://www.nctm.org/resources/content.aspx?id=1560