#letourkidsbekids | But I Smile Anyway...

So, SPaG is done. That is Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar for those of you who are unfamiliar with the jargon.

Thankfully it was more or less in line with the types of work and practice papers that the children have been doing the last few months.

As before, I sent him in with that encouraging whisper.

I was away for most of the day on a course in London, so I didn’t see him until 7.30pm, and I really didn’t want to make a big deal of it, so I just asked him quickly, how he found it.

Having seen some of the teaching staff before leaving from my course, I was aware that the test hasn’t been harder than expected. Hard, yes. But hopefully not to an extent that tears were flowing.

“It was hard mummy. Harder than others. And the spelling was tough, for me, too.”

He’s like me. He is not good under pressure, tests and exams brought the worst out in me. Ask me a question in the light of day and I can be as verbose as you like… But ask me the same under the darkness of exam pressure and I clam up.

Oh well. They are half way through. For him the ‘easy’ ones are done. Now comes the toughies of Maths. Again, he is like me, maths isn’t my strongest subject, and he struggles too. But we need to keep a growth mindset with these things.

We try to encourage him, to just try his best. It’ll click one day!

And hey, if it doesn’t, there are always calculators!

I’m sitting here at 7am with my son who may or may not pass these SATs. He may be labelled as an underachiever in the eyes of some idiots up in the bubble they call government.

But right now he is watching history videos, increasing his knowledge in other ways. Now, if you people want to test him in the humanities, he migh have had a chance. On sports? His music abilities? There would have been no worries. But no. Just Literacy and Numeracy.

Oh and he loves writing, you know. (Maybe another aspect where he is like me!) I just hope that these tests don’t strip that love of reading and writing from him. If that was to happen, I would not forgive those in authority right now.

Right time to go educate the little masses! I’ll keep you up to date in the mathematical journey tomorrow morning!

#letourkidsbekids

Can’t Get No SATs-isfaction

Well, that day has finally arrived. The one I have been dreading, for Lil Man’s sake. You may remember I wrote an open letter to the Education secretary about this.

The Year 6 (and Year 2) students in the UK are sitting their SATs tests this week. A set of tests that have been around for a while, but this year, they have changed. The National Curriculum changed last year, and they decided to introduce new tests, with higher standards, and much tougher questions this year.

I feel for these kids. I know that Lil Man and his class have been subjected to practice test after practice test the last couple of months, in readiness for these particular ones, and I think they are all exhausted. Speaking

Speaking for his teachers, from a teacher’s perspective, they have been trying to play catch up, as the Government threw them a curve ball with regards to what children are expected to achieve midway through the year. It is not their fault, they want the children to do as well as they can, and the practice is to make sure the kids are sure of how these tests work.

From a parent’s perspective though, these excessive tests just make me feel that our children’s childhoods are being snatched away from them. I know of umpteen parents who have felt the need to tutor their kids, on top of what they do at school, determined to get their children to pass with flying colours.

Who doesn’t want their child to pass?

Of course, I would love it if Lil Man came out with top marks, but I am going to be realistic here. It ain’t gonna happen. He will do as well as he can, he will give these SATs his all, and for that, I am grateful. I shall be happy with whatever he gets.

And I want him to have a happy childhood to look back on, not one where he just saw studying everywhere he turned. He loves sports, playing the dhol, spending time with our cat.

We spent this weekend forgetting about school work. He had just had a week of mock tests.

Seriously.

He’s 10 and he’s doing MOCK TESTS! I only ever had mocks when my GCSE’s were looming, at 15!

So we enjoyed the sunshine, played in the garden, allowed him to forget school for the weekend. After all, if he doesn’t know something now, it isn’t going to sink in overnight.

We just have to get him through Thursday, then the testing will be done. He can be a child again.

GOOD LUCK LIL MAN! Mummy and Daddy are behind you 100%. These things mean nothing to us. Do your best, try your hardest, give it

Mummy and Daddy are behind you 100%. These things mean nothing to us. Do your best, try your hardest, give it your all. That is as much as we can ask, and I know that you will do this. I can’t wait for this week to be done, and I know he can’t wait either.

And here is just a little piece I wrote regarding the effects this constant testing from such a young age is having on our kids, when Lil Princess was sitting her Year 2 SATs last year.

Have a good Monday Peeps. 🙂