After reflecting on the testing situation, and talking with wise friends, I am rethinking testing. I now think it can be viewed as an opportunity – for solidarity with colleagues, we are all in this together, for demonstrating the spirit of team player, showing administrators we can work and play well with others, and for collaboration experiences.
I am always working for more and better collaboration experiences, and I discovered that testing opened that door. My teachers had less time to cover what needed to be and when I offered to help and be a part of their teaching some were thrilled. A second teacher in the room, as I am working on embedding myself in classes when the library space was closed. Once they realized that I wasn’t adding more time to their lessons but supporting their teaching I was welcomed back; this is building that relationship I want. Sometimes we need to step back and not push our own agenda, just be that extra set of hands. I am anxiously waiting to see if we progress toward the next step closer to collaboration …
