MCT2 Ready!

We are so relieved that the MCT2 is OVER! Yay! We worked so hard all year, and we really wanted to show the world what our students know. We are proud of our determination, and Mrs. Johnson is in such a better mood now that it's over! Ha!

For several weeks prior to the MCT2, our school initiated a "Power Hour" time in the mornings. Each classroom had an extra adult in the classroom to help work with small groups. Mrs. Johnson LOVES having additional help and hands in her room, and she always works them hard. Ms. Gooseberry worked with small groups in our classroom between 8:30 and 9:30 each morning. Mr. Stiff, Lyric's grandfather and a retired math teacher, also came to help small groups with math. Mrs. Johnson was SO grateful for his help! Since Mrs. Johnson wanted to work with groups too, she just moved our center time to 8:30.

Our centers reflected MCT2 items in a fun and creative way. We found ourselves excited to rotate to the next "test prep" center. Take a look at some of the things we did...

Missing Variable Dominoes

Board game with test items on sound devices and literary devices

Nonfiction reading cards

Board game with text features, text structures, genre, etc...

Mrs. Johnson also had to think outside the box to keep us focused and motivated during reviews. One time she got so excited when Kenyada was the ONLY ONE to get the correct answer that she frantically searched for a reward...

He got to wear her sunglasses for the rest of the lesson! Ha! Mrs. Johnson later used the sunglasses as punishment when Kenyada talked during lunch. He had to wear them in the cafeteria! Ha ha! I think he secretly enjoyed all the attention!

Another thing our school did to help us stay motivated was to have the younger grades sponsor the older grades! We LOVED this! Ms. Strum's second grade class sponsored us! They made us an awesome banner to hang outside our classroom and encourage us.

They also brought us treats throughout the week. On our last day of review, the second graders brought us each a bag of cookies with a note that said, "Be a Smart Cookie!" Mrs. Johnson let us eat them during review time.


During testing, Ms. Strum's class surprised us with many more treats:

• Highlighters so we would "SHINE on the test!"
• Hershey Kisses to "kiss our worries goodbye!"
• Starburst so we could "be stars on the MCT2!"
• Smartees because "Smartees know how to take a test!"
• Bubble gum to help us "chews the right answer!"
• Pencils, erasers, and pencil sharpeners!

We were so thankful and appreciative of each item! It really pushed us to do our best and set a good example for these younger students.

Our school held our annual MCT2 Parade/Pep Rally on Monday before testing. Each class had a banner and a cheer! Our teachers, administrators, and staff work so hard to keep us going. How could you not love it here!?

Mrs. Johnson DOES realize the grammar is not perfect...it should say "I'll do WELL!" But "I Look Good" by Chalie Boy is our theme. Ha! So, she just had to grin and bear it!

Mrs. Johnson was very proud of our hard work on the MCT2. We used TONS of scratch paper on math, and we wrote ALL OVER our test books in reading and language. I guess she told Ms. Strum, because Ms. Strum's class surprised us with a reward! Ice cream sundaes!!! Yay! The second graders served us and sat with us as we watched a movie. It was a great day!

Kristin and D'Aubriney enjoy their ice cream with their second grade friends.

Sha'Erykah and sweet second grade girls

These second graders are looking to us for an example!

Overall, we had a fantastic MCT2 week! We never thought that was possible, but we hope all our hard work, determination, and motivation pays off! We did the best we could, and that is all Mrs. Johnson ever asks of us!

We are proud!

She is proud!

Aren't you proud?