WEEK 25 - IB Exams

Testing, testing, testing. It seems like it's all we do these days. Kids spend so much time testing that it's amazing they have enough time to actually learn anything before the test.

On Tuesday my level 5 and 6 students will start what's called the "International Baccalaureate Written Assignment." It is the first of 5 major tests they will be taking in my class, and it lasts 4 straight days. That's right, FOUR DAYS. During those 4 days, they will have to do a creative writing piece based on different texts they will have to read (level 6 students have to write 500-600 words plus a 150 word justification, and level 5 students will write 300-400 words with a 100 word justification).

Because this is my first year teaching IB, it has been a very big learning curve. Most days I feel like I am only 1 step ahead of the kids. In fact, I'm usually brainstorming the night before what I'll teach the next day.

To prep all the materials for this exam, I went in to work on Saturday, after I had already logged 53 hours during the week. I spent almost 4 hours at work, but finally I got everything ready.

I am really glad that it's a 3-day weekend.

My hours for week 25:

Day	Date	Start	End	Total Hours
Sun	2/10/2013	9:15 PM	11:00 PM	1.75
M	2/11/2013	8:00 AM	4:00 PM	8
T	2/12/2013	7:30 AM	4:30 PM	9
		7:45 PM	10:30 PM	2.75
W	2/13/2013	7:15 AM	7:00 PM	11.75
Th	2/14/2013	7:45 AM	5:15 PM	9.5
		9:00 PM	10:30 PM	1.5
F	2/15/2013	8:00 AM	4:30 PM	8.5
Sat	2/16/2013	11:00 AM	2:45 PM	3.75
		7:45 PM	10:45 PM	3
	Total			59.5