I like AP Lit facebook so much and go on there a lot sharing my blogs and opinions--some popular, some not so much. But I am always wary about going on the day of the test. I don't hear from many of my kids on test day--this year I was gone Wed. because of stupid knee thing. But even had I been there they don't usually come dancing to my room after the test and exclaim (as some teachers' students do), "The test was so easy! Everything we did in class prepped us so well! All three essays were great and the multiple choice questions were not nearly as hard as the ones we do in class."
Reading those fired up responses makes my stomach drop. OF COURSE, I want to hear the exact same thing, but my students' responses as they trickle slowly in will be all over the board. Some girl will say she finished the MCT with 25 minutes left and another will say it gave her so much trouble it threw her off for the essay portion. Another will say it all went really well, but then will start talking about trying to come up with the devices she needed to discuss for Q3. Devices for Q3?! Crap.
I think I care too much about AP and the exam, and I always have. Today I will finally see all my Lit students. If the variety of responses from the first five are any indication of the rest of the commentary, I'm going to wonder, "What the hell did I (or didn't I) teach them? " I mean, I have varying ability levels in class, but they all sat in the same room for the last nine months getting the same schtick. Still, there are lots of factors. I am so proud of them for taking the test.
So, today is a party day. They are supposed to bring food and we'll watch BLACKFISH and everyone can hate Sea World for a few days. My students are juniors, so we have 2.5 weeks to coast out. After the movie, we'll likely read OF MICE AND MEN or THE LONG WAY DOWN, and perform the Absurd one-act play The Sandbox by Albee. I promised them no homework for two weeks after the exam. I'll admit it it--I am anxious to hear what they have to say about the test today--hopefully it won't be a chorus of, "Wow! I just didn't feel ready!" I doubt that. We left it all on the field. Now they wait. And hopefully think about anything else!
I'll be glad when the AP Lang test is over, too. I only have 10 seniors taking that one. They did a full practice essay test yesterday, and I had them choose 2 of the 3 for me to respond to. Tragically, I also get a short (4 page) APA research paper from them this weekend. I seriously am here to make them hate their lives (or me mine), I think.
Anyway, CONGRATS on the accomplishment of helping your kids prep for a really challenging exam! Huzzah! For some of us, one down!
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