We moved to Austin last year from California so we’re new to this Texas education and the TAKS tests.  My daughter failed her math portion of the test last year and I thought she would have to retake the test with a passing grade to allow her to move on to the next grade. Apparently, after stressing the entire year because she’s so weak in math, we found out that it had no bearing on her passing to the next grade. I asked her fourth grade teacher about the tests for this year- which ones will they take and which ones are required for passing onto fifth grade- but I couldn’t seem to get a straight answer. Anyone have any information they can share before going to talk with the principle?  It all seems very confusing and more stress for the kids and me to worry about.

My son’s teacher has done an excellent job making sure that her students know that they need to go to bed early the night before and eat a healthy, nutritious breakfast on test day. So my son has mentioned several times over the past week that he needs to eat something good on Wednesday morning. I asked him what exactly that entails- should I get up extra early to make him some eggs and sausage or will a steaming bowl of oatmeal do the trick? Eggs sounds alright, but then a light bulb popped up outside of his head and he said that he needed to eat blueberries. What a smart child, I thought. He knows that blueberries boost brain power.

I’ve decided to make him a smoothie and bought some frozen organic blueberries. I’m hoping that the prospect of a fresh blueberry smoothie will make him to go to bed early, just like on Christmas Eve, when he’s anxious to see what’s under the tree in the morning. I think he’s looking forward to testing day!