Standards

As you all well know, I am teaching again this year. As you also know, I am teaching math rather than English. I am certified in English and have a state approved plan to be certified in math. Basically, all that means is that I have to pass the PRAXIS. Oh, what a bloody, bloody bad thing that PRAXIS is. I took the PRAXIS for English and for Experienced Teaching while in Utah, and both were horrendous. Okay, maybe it's the ADHD that I may or may not have, but sitting in a testing room for 3 hours, not being able to make any noise or move around is probably the definition of hell on Earth. So I was super pumped to take this new test in math. Oh, did I mention the test started at 7 in the morning? Did I also mention it was on a Saturday? Oh, and that the Saturday it was offered was my birthday? Rude, ETS testing company. Rude. Anyway, I suffered through the dang thing and finished with the feeling of fear that I don't know anything (which may or may not be true).

Let's move forward into the future, when I get my test results. My results are sent to Utah and to Indiana, because I am licensed in both places, so why not be certified in both as well. So I got my results back. Guess what? According to this test and the lovely standards each state has, I passed for Utah but didn't pass for Indiana. I hate that. Why not have all scores the same? I mean, does the 6 points I missed for my Indiana certification really make a difference there that Utah doesn't care about? (And by the way, 6 points? Really? Ugh.) I just think it's really silly that one score is fine in one location, but it's not in another. Not cool, guys! Not cool! Well, I guess that means I get to take that test again. Oh boy! And boy howdy!