Who's Afraid of the ACT?

It's getting to be that time of year... mandatory ACT testing for all juniors in the state of Wisconsin. So in an effort to prepare them a little bit more, I have dedicated the entire month of February to ACT prep in English 11, Pre-AP (which consists of one junior and four sophomores who are my little guinea pigs), and the junior half of AP Language. We are over half way done now and it's been just about the most thrilling part of my day!

Yeah right.

Most of the time I can keep them on track but there is always a few moments here and there where we get off subject or they are over what ever topic we are practicing that day. I just keep reminding them that this is only going to benefit them when they take the test. 

The part that drives me crazy is when students will come to me outside of class and say, "Ms. Abel I am so glad that we are doing ACT prep." 

Is it acceptable to grab those students by the shoulders, shake them and say, "Then why don't you do anything in class?!" 

.......I didn't think so. 

As much as they crack me up on a day-to-day basis, I am sure they do some of it to just drive me crazy.

Oh well. For now I will just keep forcing it down their throats, like medicine you know is good for you but tastes terrible.


Sidebar - I cleaned off my desk for the first time probably since September... it's very odd and slightly unsettling to be able to see the desk top and to have space to write without having to pile papers and books on top of one another.

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