Iowa Test of Basic Skills...for teachers?

This morning started out like mornings do once a month at Webster City High School...with a staff meeting. Now mind you, most staff meetings come with kudos from the principal for our efforts, social moments with other teachers, and donuts. This morning also came with ITED results!

As we poured over the data, one fact represented itself over and over...our students as NOT proficient in the basic English language skills, particularly vocabulary and spelling. We spent a good 30 minutes lamenting the futures of these students that don't know how to write without abbreviating every other word and eliminating all vowels (txt tlk), and then went off to our rooms to start the day.

Skip to 6th period (11/12th Grade Choir). Note: we are two days away from our biggest performance of the year...Variety Show! Week of performances always get a little intense during class, and today was no different. And lo and behold...two back-row sopranos start chatting their little hearts away.

1. I give them the look. 2. I speak their names firmly 3. I've had it! "Ladies, this is the multiplest time I've addressed... (slowly drift away from speech as I realize that I've just made a complete fool of myself!) Boy in the front row "What?!"

Chaos breaks out, and the firm moment is lost. How ironic, that on a day we address our student's lack of vocab, I start creating words.

Best part: as I tell a friend the story after school, I say "I don't know what's going on with this ridiculosity. Not kidding.