Upon entering my music room earlier this month, my second-graders anxiously asked whether we were going to get to sing. I replied: "Two, last, short summative assessments today; please take a pencil; but, after today, for the rest of the year, we'll get to sing and dance and clap and move."
I think the subsequent cheering could be heard all the way to the state Department of Education building.
Do you see what's sad and wrong about this situation? Instead of taking assessments in music class, students should be actively making music. Instead of stressing students out with multiple tests and assessments, give them more opportunities to enjoy learning through active involvement.
There is so much more to education than pencils on paper.
Robyn Sheldon
Averill Park