Laurie Desautels - Brain Aligned Testing Strategies

This week, 7th and 8th grade students will start their first round of ILEARN on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  This is a stressful time for students and teachers.  Laurie Desautels offers some suggests for all students during testing (AP testing starts next week) on how you can help them manage their brains.  Also, below you will find a copy of the ILEARN schedule.  PLEASE look at it as we will be using a large portion of the building in the morning on those days to test.  

 

Post from Laurie Desautels:

 I Learn and other state testing begins in the weeks ahead! I posted this in 2017 but it matters now more than ever!!!!

Focused Attention Practices for the weeks ahead!

1. Take 90 seconds two or three times a day to do focused attention practices and some movement... let students lead some of these! (Link to Focus Attention Practice Ideas)

2. Celebrate students' strengths all week.. choose two or three a day and affirm with positive notes, affirmations, and talk about the multiple intelligences and how these tests do not measure how smart you are!

3. On a few days, bring cotton balls with scents to pass out and smell before the test for 90 seconds!

4. Use National Geographic brain games this week as a brain interval after testing!

5. Talk about all of the well known people that have succeeded NOT based on test scores but their passion and willingness to keep trying! Maybe choose a person a day!

6. Write before the tests have the students write out or draw their worries and drop them into the worry jars... you might even create a ritual to get rid of these each day!

7. As a class for the next two weeks, choose a custodian, cafeteria worker, bus driver, principal or teacher or student from the building to care for!! Cards, post-its , or making an art project to give this person a lift will bring out the dopamine!

8. Create an I Learn graffiti wall where students can share their words, artwork and symbols of strength expertise or areas of interest! Each day, students can add to these before or after the test!

9. Pick a class read for the day or week to read to your students! Choose an uplifting motivational book to share at the end of the day or before the day!

10. Create a class legos or block or a construction of some material that you can add onto each day!! (Let them build/play.)

As my dad would always tell me: "90% of the game is all in your head."  The same is true about testing.  Mentally preparing students for testing is part of the journey.  Thanks to all of you for working hard to prepare students and care for them deeply.   - Jody

Important Information: 

ILEARN Schedule - Please take a moment to look at this schedule, as it has changed a little bit.  Testing begins on Tuesday morning.  ILEARN SCHEDULE

Early College Re-Endorsement - On Friday, May 30th, we will be going through the Early College re-endorsement Interview.  They will be interviewing students, teachers, school administration during this time.  We also have to create a presentation about how we have grown in our programming over the past year.  Thanks to all of you for making our program a success.  

Innovate WithIN - This Wednesday, Reece Novak, Liam Gogel and Cole Granderson will be presenting their business pitch (kind of like shark tank) to a committee for the next round of the Innovate WithIN Contest.  The three students have made it to the top 30 and will be in the running for scholarships and cash prizes.  Last week, they did a practice round with Jason Hubert and Erin Emerson - two members of our community.  They have worked very hard and if you see them - wish them luck! 

Junior-Senior Interviews - This Wednesday and Thursday, students in grades 11 and 12 will be participating in mock interviews during the morning times.  Mike Bishop and Dana Harris have rounded up several members of the community to come in and give students the interviews.  Many students are interviewing for the requirements of the Work Ethic Certification, some will be interviewing for potential internships and for others it is a great experience and one more way we help them be prepared for high school.  You can find a copy of the schedule HERE.  We are asking students to be at their location 5 minutes before their interview starts.  

Prom - This weekend is Prom!  Mrs. Hagedorn and the High School Student Council will be busy decorating for our special event.  We appreciate their efforts and look forward to a beautiful and fun weekend.  

Ivy Tech Instructors - Tell City Ivy Tech is looking for instructors.  I am just sharing in case you know someone that may be interested.  You can find the requirements and their tentative schedule attached for the fall.  Let me know if you have questions.  More Information

Run For Your Mother - The Leadership Perry County Class of 2013 started the Run for Your Mother Annual Event several years ago.  The proceeds from the event goes back to county vocational programs (including Perry Central) to help promote vocational education.  The program gets a check and our Leadership Class has started a fund at the Perry County Community Foundation so it can support these programs forever!  It is a lot of fun.  If you want to join us this year, you can find a copy of the enrollment form HERE.  Due to COVID, I believe it is more of a "weekend" activity.  Hope to see you there!

Important Dates: 

Tuesday, April 27 -  Junior High teachers that teach SEL Lessons will meet with Shelly at 7:30 in the high school library to get the lessons for the week.  

Wednesday, April 28 - Teachers who are helping with Early College Endorsement (you received an email from me) will meet at 7:30 a.m. to prepare for the interviews.