Schedule changes and weather here in New Jersey made the new PARCC test a real challenge in many ways! When I didn't see students, it was important for them to understand I was still there for them. It was important to update parents on any changes during the school day. Remind was there to help me. It helped me to keep calm, and helped the students and the parents be less stressed.
Standardized testing can be a very stressful time for teachers, students and parents. As a special education teacher, I saw the effect the PARCC had on my students this year, and their struggle to meet the test's expectations. It is important for students and parents to know that even though the few weeks of testing can be hectic and stressful, you are there for them and that the normal (as possible) routines will still take place. Continue to let them know you care and encourage them to do their best.
I remind my students of testing times, schedule changes and testing content through a quick message. Early in the morning, students and parents might not check their email, but they'll be checking their phones.
Before the test, I send students morning motivation and encouragement. Although I may feel frustrated with standardized testing, I need to let my students know that I'm here for them and support them. When students know that their teacher wants them to do well, it can make a big difference in their outlook and effort.
I often send students and parents test-taking tips and strategies for the next day. Quick tips like telling students to eliminate incorrect test choices and staying positive can go a long way! Messages also include my timely recommendations to get a good night's sleep and eat breakfast.
Before students start their tests, open up a forum to the class and take a few minutes to encourage students to talk about their feelings. Are they feeling anxious? overwhelmed? prepared? Sometimes sending a joke in the morning is a great ice breaker, a funny song, video or a motivational good luck message is great, too. Tell students not to rush, take deep breaths.
During the grueling time of standardized testing, it's important to stay on top of daily lessons and continue to push through curriculum. Remind helps me to stay connected and support students during standardized testing.
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* ppcUrlCookiePart1 and ppcUrlCookiePart2 must be called, see bottom of script
* update ppcUrlCookiePart2 and ppcUrlCookiePart2 to match your querystring and form field names
*
*/
//Leave this as true to always use querystring values if they exist, if no querystring will attempt to get cookie values
var ppcUseLatestValues = true; //set this to false to use cookie values if they exist (if false, will not check querystring first).
//function to grab params from cookie
function getCookie(param_name) {
var i, x, y, cookie = document.cookie.split(";");
for (i = 0; i < cookie.length; i++) {
x = cookie[i].substr(0, cookie[i].indexOf("="));
y = cookie[i].substr(cookie[i].indexOf("=") + 1);
x = x.replace(/^\s+|\s+$/g, "");
if (x == param_name) {
return unescape(y);
}
}
}
//function to create cookie
function setCookie(param_name, value, exdays) {
var exdate = new Date();
exdate.setDate(exdate.getDate() + exdays);
//CHANGE DOMAIN BELOW TO MATCH SITE
var c_value = escape(value) + ((exdays == null) ? "" : "; domain=remind.com; path=/; expires=" + exdate.toUTCString());
document.cookie = param_name + "=" + c_value;
}
//function to check if cookie exists and, if so, run the setCookie function
function checkCookie(param_name, param_url_name) {
var param_value = getCookie(param_name);
if ((param_value != null && param_value != "" && param_value != "undefined") && ppcUseLatestValues == false) {
//this means the param name/value pair exists - and we don't want to use latest
}
else {
//this means the param name/value pair does not exist - so create it
//grab values from URL
var pageURL = window.location.search.substring(1);
var URLVariables = pageURL.split('&');
for (var i = 0; i < URLVariables.length; i++) {
var parameterName = URLVariables[i].split('=');
if (parameterName[0] == param_url_name) {
//filter out "#" in case that is in the last URL param
param_value = parameterName[1].split("#")[0];
}
}
if (param_value != "undefined" && param_value != "" && param_value != null) {
//create cookie
setCookie(param_name, param_value, 365);
}
}
}
//function to setup the parameters and save the cookie values
function ppcUrlCookiePart1() {
//setup list/array of parameters desired. names on right should match querystring names
var param_names = new Array(
'ppcSource;utm_source',
'ppcMedium;utm_medium',
'ppcCampaign;utm_campaign',
'ppcAdGroup;utm_adgroup',
'ppcKeyword;utm_term',
'ppcContent;utm_content'
);
//loop through all params and create cookie
for (i = 0; i < param_names.length; i++) {
var param_object = param_names[i].split(";");//split out the cookie name and url name
var param_name = param_object[0];
var param_url_name = param_object[1];
//start the cookie creation
checkCookie(param_name, param_url_name);
}
}
//function to grab cookie params
function mGetCookie(param_name) {
var i, x, y, cookie = document.cookie.split(";");
for (i = 0; i < cookie.length; i++) {
x = cookie[i].substr(0, cookie[i].indexOf("="));
y = cookie[i].substr(cookie[i].indexOf("=") + 1);
x = x.replace(/^\s+|\s+$/g, "");
if (x == param_name) {
return unescape(y);
}
}
}
//function to check if cookie exists and, if so, fill out the corresponding form fields
function mCheckCookie(param_name, param_field_name) {
var param_value = mGetCookie(param_name);
if (param_value != null && param_value != "" && param_value != "undefined") {
try
{
var obj1 = document.getElementsByName(param_field_name);
obj1[0].value = param_value;
return true;
}
catch (err)
{
return false;
}
}
return false;
}
//function to setup parameters and begin cookie value insertion into marketo form
function ppcUrlCookiePart2() {
//setup list/array of parameters desired. names on right should match hidden form field names
var param_names = new Array(
'ppcSource;utm_source__c',
'ppcMedium;utm_medium__c',
'ppcCampaign;utm_campaign__c',
'ppcAdGroup;utm_adgroup__c',
'ppcKeyword;utm_term__c',
'ppcContent;utm_content__c'
);
//loop through all params and create cookie
for (i = 0; i < param_names.length; i++) {
var param_object = param_names[i].split(";");//split out the cookie name and url name
var param_name = param_object[0];
var param_field_name = param_object[1];
//start the cookie creation
mCheckCookie(param_name, param_field_name);
}
}
//ppcUrlCookiePart1 will grab values from the querystring and save them in cookies
ppcUrlCookiePart1();
//ppcUrlCookiePart2 will retrive values from the cookies and populate the hidden form fields - should be in the onload
try
{
//attempt for Marketo form
MktoForms2.whenReady(function (form){
ppcUrlCookiePart2();
});
}
catch (err)
{
//if error on Marketo form, try loading for regular form.
ppcUrlCookiePart2();
}