What did you expect? Did you not think you’d wrestle regret? Did you not think you’d duel with doubt? You’ve been stressed. And you know it. And there’s no way out. Just yesterday, your Sappy Sy Rhyme gave you away. You can’t hide. It’s here. The SBA.

It is here. The peel is in my path, and I am going to step on it. I have to. I chose this path. I took a risk. And now I have to own it. All of it, even the fear and trepidation that comes with it, the stress that comes with it.

And while it’s cool that I am resolute in my rejection of the starring role that standardized testing has come to own on the educational stage, courage–even foolhardy courage–is not without fear. The data are here.

They have arrived. The data are here. I’ve known for sometime. They come every year. First came the WASL. Then the HSPE. Now the SBA; they are coming for me. But even worse, they come for each kid. Claiming to be measure of all that we did. Or didn’t. Ready or not. They’ve come to assess all that I’ve taught. But this year is different. I turned away. I’ve tried to ignore it. Out in the fray. In terms of the test, we have not prepared. And though I boast brave. I am admittedly scared.

And I hate that. I hate that my otherwise exhilarating year with my kids gets reduced to a test. I have not prepared my kids for the test. At all, really. I have focused on them and their learning. And while I imagine things will turn out “fine,” for my numbers are always “good,” this year is different. I bought the banana. I peeled the banana. I ate the banana. I threw the peel in my path. And now I am going to step on it. I have to.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will…

…begin with Smiles and Frowns.

…discuss latest performance results: class and individual feedback.

…do some dreaded, cheap, I-am-a-sellout, last minute prep for the SBA. (Brave, indeed…).

…end with a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Wednesday, all. Have a great day. I’ve got a banana to eat.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.