TAKS time

My son took TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) tests this spring - four of them!! hey were coming. They are required and his performance either sends him on to Senior High School or holds him stagnant where his is to repeat 9th grade. All ninth graders take Social Studies, Mathematics, Science and English TAKS.

However, all ninth graders are not completely distracted by the way the paper feels under his or her hand. All ninth graders are not consumed with trying to place ambiguity where none exists. All ninth graders do not find the bell schedule - and the fact that it is 30 seconds off - far more interesting. All ninth graders are probably better able to block out the tactile consequences of 'ugly pencils' (anything but a Ticonderoga No. 2) scraping on 'spongy paper' (newsprint). Other ninth graders can get past all this input, ignore all the other noises around them like the girl biting her nails and the boys scratching his jeans and the teacher's breathing and concentrate on the questions or better yet, what is happening in the world economy. Is the Euro in trouble? What is Spain's debt rating? Will the storm in the Atlantic turn into a hurricane as it enters the Gulf? There are so many places where life is more interesting than in that room - where he has to undergo TAKS testing.

This year my son's and my collective stress levels were no different than any other year. In fact, they might have been greater. More tests = more stress and anxiety. Jackson's High School future depended on him passing these tests.

In Plano, high school isn't the same 4-year program at a single school that it is in most places around the country. High School in Plano, Texas means ninth and tenth graders go to one school. Senior High School students go to a different campus to complete eleventh and twelfth grades. It's weird. I know. But that's how they do it here.

He took the tests at the end of May. Yesterday - his results arrived in the mail. Immediately he told me not to open the envelope. if course, I ignored that request and tore it open. He made a dash to the other end of the house only to come sneaking back out - one pensive footfall at a time.Shy. Afraid. Bracing for the look on my face that let him know he would be attending summer school. (I don't know why. This hasn't happened since he was eight but I suppose that one occurrence is enough evidence that summer school remains a possibility.)

Let me just say . . . . "Commended!!"

This means that his scores were not only passing, not only average, not just above average, but above they typical high score as it relates to his peers and other students in the state.

YAY!!!

I am so proud of him! And do you know what? He is too. He said as much. After taking his time examining the results, he said, "I didn't think I did that well. I am kind of surprised." He worked so hard this year and has done really well. All those years of test-taking training and strategies to help him enhance his ability to concentrate have finally paid off for him.

He has done a fabulous job and can look forward to relaxing this summer and beginning Senior High School next August at the school of his choice. Plano East Senior High.

Yes, he had a choice. But that will have to be the subject of another post.