We talked about this in the car on the way to school this morning. My kids said that some of their teachers "teach to the test" and others are great teachers whom they LOVE because they teach the kids the material. My son is 12 now. His favorite teachers were in 1st and 3rd Mrs. Jane Holman and in 5th he had Mrs Elli De Sa. He says that they changed his life because they helped him to love learning. Currently he is in 6th at Oconee Middle and he raves about Mr. Grudowski (MR. G) because he "is cool and teaches us stuff" and Mrs. Daniel because she believes in him. My daughter is in 3rd and is in love with her teacher Kathy Little. Both kids say that they hate work sheets that they have to do over and over again on a particular topic...now I am not sure that these are CRCT test prep sheets or the normal course of action...What are you moms and dads out there seeing?

From what I have heard, a number of teachers do not like the CRCT, but they have to go along with mandates.

I think Mr. Agan might adopt Nicholas...I think the feeling is mutual!

Everyone seems to love Mr. Agan! I went to Stephens County High School and still fondly recall my band teacher, Mr. Wilcher. Glad to know Oconee Middle School band students are in great hands!

Every one is lucky to have a special teacher who impacts their lives and makes a positive lasting impression. My current mentor was a teacher...Dr. Jonell Kirby Cash sought an education in the 40's before women "did that kind of thing". She got her bachelors degree, was married, had a daughter and then a divorce before women "did those things". She married again and co parented children and step children and foster children and was a teacher and therapist and got her masters degree and everyone was amazed because she was doing all of these things. She got her PHD and was a professor and a therapist and was married more than 35 years when her husband passed away. She moved here to Athens to be near her daughter, also a DR...Sylvia Knight and then she met and married her high school sweetheart. They have been married more than 10 years now. She has seen women's rights and civil rights and now she is getting ready to publish her first work of fiction. She is an inspiration to me...

I got caught up reading Patch.com sorry! We have great items to read this week! Hey, just curious...have your kids gotten cards pulled or punched or lost recess for not doing homework, missing homework, neglecting work?

I know I (and some other parents I know) feel like we didn't start soon enough. Time really does fly!!! And funny you should bring it up--did you know I spent yesterday morning investigating colleges and tuition costs all morning yesterday??

We are already making plans for out 14-month-old! Who knows how expensive it will be then, or if any remnants of HOPE will be around!

Tuition is so expensive. In state and local colleges (for associate degrees) are what Clark Howard suggests! (Yes, I love listening to his radio show!)

I am glad you reminded me of that lost snow week. It is hard for me to gauge personally because my kids have been out sick with Strep and the Flu so we have TONS of make up work. Harrison brought home 2 CRCT practice books last night to work on but I was not sure if he is still catching up from last week or if ALL students are feeling the crunch...

Did they made an adjustment to the testing schedule because of the inclement weather days? The calendar says "revised test dates."

Right! Thanks Holly! Harrison has had work in CRCT workbooks but has not grumbled too much. I hope that after school gets out a few teachers will log in and post comments and advise us on what their day is like in the classroom. I wonder what pressure they are feeling as well.

Only if they can post anonymously.