So this week, we started the dreaded state assessments. Because I am the case manager for all students in the ASD program and I put the modification of testing individually on all of their IEP's, I was the one who got to test them. Monday morning was committed to talking about what to expect and going over the visual schedule that we would use. Tuesday, we started the daunting task of the actual testing. I sharpened my #2 pencils (btw, if #2 pencils are soooo great, then why aren't they #1 pencils?), got my scrap paper ready and put the sign you see to the left on my classroom door. Right in the middle. Blown up to take up the whole 8 1/2 X 11 piece of paper. Did that stop no fewer than 5 people from opening my door and asking "Oh, are you testing?" No it did not. I got so mad. I asked our process coordinator if I could change locations. He told me the only place left was in a tiny trailer used for administrator meetings behind our school. I said, "I'll take it!" I don't think he thought that I would because of the potential for volatility with my students. So we moved our testing to the trailer and all was well (for which I am thankful).
