Standardized testing time is a stressful experience for students and teachers alike.
For many schools, test scores determine whether they will receive the funding they need. For students, it can mean the difference between moving on to the next grade or not.
At testing time, kids nervously sharpen their number two pencils and flip open the dreaded booklet with seemingly endless rows of bubbles waiting to be filled in.
Teachers sit nervously at their desks hoping the hours of preparation they provided will be enough to guide their kids through the exams.
Unsurprisingly, Britain's Standard Assessment Tests (also called the SATs) cause a lot of stress, and one primary school teacher decided to do something about it.
Instead of overloading her kids with more information to cram into their brains, she decided to give them a take-home assignment they would never forget.
Scroll down to find out what this clever educator asked of her kids, and don't forget to let us know what you think of her assignment in the comments!
When I was a kid, the last thing I wanted to do when I got home from school was more work.
Now more than ever, kids are required to keep up with nationally defined standards in school, and extra work is necessary to keep them up to speed.
Mrs. Thom, a teacher at Bucklebury Primary School in the United Kingdom, decided to send her kids home with an extra special assignment.
She wrote out a letter to each kid with the following requirements…
"We are now in the last couple of days before SATs and it is vital that you use your time this weekend wisely.
"This is your homework for this weekend.
"Please complete as many of these activities as possible and tick to say they have been done…"
"- Go on a bike/scooter ride
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Read a book
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Watch your favorite TV program
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Smile
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Eat Haribo or ice cream
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Spend time with people you love
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Laugh until your tummy hurts
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Go outside and enjoy the weather
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Go for a swim or a walk
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Spend time on your favorite hobby
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Rest
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See friends
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Run until you just can’t anymore
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Cook or make something
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Have more Haribo or ice cream
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Play in your garden
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Do something you have never done before…"
"If you feel you have to, you may revise, but you can only do this for a maximum of one hour total.
"Remember — Mrs. Thom is in charge of worrying — you don’t need to.
"You are all amazing and I couldn’t be more proud of you.
"Have a fabulous weekend!"
Many teachers, like Mrs. Thom, recognize that sometimes kids need a little more time to just be kids!
Instead of burdening them with more work for the weekend, she required her kids fill their days with fun and joy.
Let us know what you think of Mrs. Thom's alternative homework assignment in the comments, and don't forget to SHARE with the educators in your life!
