Testing...1-2-3

We are testing this week in Kindergarten. Every April, the children take a school readiness test, which determines if and how ready they are for 1st grade and what they need to work on over the summer for next year (phonics, handwriting, letter recognition, etc.). I told all of my school parents last Monday in my newsletter that this was happening this week. In fact, I told most of them about it at conferences (late March/early April). However, you would never know it. This morning, I had 4 children absent-4!!! What the heck? I was not about to change my testing dates, though. I knew 1 of the kids was on a week-long vacation, 1 was "sleeping in," and the other 2 were sick. Too bad for them! Guess they will have to make it up during Playtime and Quiet Time! And you know that these are the kids that won't do as well on the test (probably because of the testing time/environment) and the parents will wonder why? HELLO?!?

What was even more frustrating is that while we were testing, the child who was "sleeping in" walked in with his mom. She said, "Oh, hi, sorry we're late, he just needed more sleep, etc." I politely told her we were in the middle of a test, so that her son should get his pencil and take a seat. "OH, I am SO sorry. I just...I didn't know. I'm sorry...." Oh my goodness! For real! Read your newsletter, people! To top that off, she had to call later and apologize again. "I am so sorry about before. I totally forgot that the test was this week. I wasn't thinking. I am really sorry!" OK, I get it! But rather than apologize and try to kiss my derriere, just be there. Put your child to bed early, make sure they get a nutritious breakfast, and get them to school.