In Virginia, our end of year, high stakes tests are called the Standards of Learning Tests (SOLs). I do not want this post to be complaining about them. Yes they are stressful, and people question their appropriateness at the elementary level. But, as one of my favorite TV show says “The avalanche has already started, it is too late for the pebbles to vote.”
I am totally a pebble.
My goal is to help the stress level. Many schools take over the large spaces and test 50 to 100 students together. Our school decided to reduce the stress on the students by testing them in the room they where they learned the content. Some students with small group or read aloud accommodations do take the test in a Special Education room or one of the admin’s offices. But, the majority of students end up testing in their usual classroom.
We then needed a way to keep everyone informed. Who needed help? Who was finished testing? If I was in a small group, how did I know when I could send my students back to their usual classroom.
When it was everyone in one big room and a few small rooms it was easier to know. Now testing might be spread across 10 different rooms (5 small testing locations and 5 classrooms) it can be more difficult.
We decided to keep track in Google Apps for Education Sheet. There are many ways we could do this (Google Apps, Trello, Today’s Meet) But we went with Google Apps because we can . . .
- We can set permissions so only people in the building can see it.
- With Validation Rules, you can make easy drop down menus
- An AP can just carry around their IPad and access it through the Google Sheets App
- We also broadcast it through the in-school cable system, so the Office Staff could know whose room they should not call.
Notes For Kevin 
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