My “talking points” about the CMTs

March 6, 2012 | Posted in: Class Updates

Leave a Comment

The students in our class are nervous about the CMTs.  This is 100% normal, and we (teachers) work
very hard to help kids to cope with the text anxiety that many of them feel during this testing period.  I want to share with you some of what I tell kids about the CMTs in hopes that we can share similar messages to the kids:

• “Yes, the CMTs do matter.”  I think we have a tendency to try to downplay the importance of the CMTs to kids in hopes of solving their fears.  But they hear teachers talking about them all year, they may see you open the envelope that has their scores, and they know that no other event in school gets such special, formal treatment.  They know full well that the CMTs are a big deal.

• “The CMTs help you.”  I think this is entirely truthful.  Teachers use the CMTs to adjust our instruction to meet the needs of our learners.  We use them to be more effective teachers, which absolutely helps kids.  (Sure, there are other roles that the CMTs play, but why burden kids with extra focus on these parts?)
• “The CMTs will ___ and will not ____.”  You might be surprised what misconceptions kids have about the CMTs.  Today, I was asked if poor performance on these tests will prevent kids from going to fifth grade (no) or if it will keep kids from getting into college (double no).  I try to be absolutely direct when telling what effect the CMTs will and will not have.  (If you have a question about this, please ask me.)
• “It’s ok to be worried!”  I think we have a tendency to try to remove kids fears by saying “Oh, don’t worry!” or “There’s no reason to be nervous!”  The truth is, if a child is worried about the test, then clearly they feel that they have a reason to worry.  I try to validate their feelings, and I instead focus on helping them to stop feeling worried, not on telling them to stop worrying.
• “Just try your best.”  I have been very direct with kids – I ask them just to try their very hardest.  If they can honestly tell me that they did, then I’m proud of them.  But part of trying your best means taking time to remember the things you have been taught and making yourself think carefully about your choices during an assessment, not just picking the first answer that looks decent so that you can move on to the next item.  It also means CHECKING OVER your work.
• “Sleep.” A sleepy student is predisposed to performing poorly on the CMTs.  Please make sure that your child gets PLENTY of sleep the night before a test.  (Consider enforcing earlier bedtimes, if you deem it appropriate.)
• “Have a calm morning.”  By the same token, please try to minimize morning stress. Coming to school late and/or coming after a chaotic morning will put your child in a bad mind-set for testing. Try to make sure your child arrives on-time to school, as late arriving students will NOT be allowed to enter the classroom during testing. They will be sent to the library and will be expected to make up tests at another time. Students who are absent the day of a test will need to make it up after the conclusion of standard testing. This will cause them to miss classroom instruction, so it’s important that, whenever possible, students not be absent during CMT testing.
• “Dress comfortably.”  Nobody is worried about fashion during this week of testing.  Kids should dress in a comfortable outfit that doesn’t distract them as they work.  (Haven’t we all been bothered by an itchy label or a pair of shoes that doesn’t fit quite right?)
• “Eat breakfast.”  A filling, nutritious breakfast is also essential to good test performance. (Growling stomachs will distract your child, and, frankly, other students too.) Please try to make sure your child has breakfast at home. Healthy snacks will be provided for students before testing, but there is no substitute for a good breakfast.

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions!