Happy Friday, RISERS! I hope this week has been good to you. It’s TCAP testing time in Tennessee! If you or someone you know is affected by this, don’t feel stressed. You’ve got this. In Knoxville, we have finished the first week of testing and feel confident we can make it through next week. But for now, enjoy this weekend by doing the things you love (or maybe by trying something new).
Quote of the Week: “Don’t rely on getting easy questions. Practice for the hard ones.” –Anthony T. Hincks
Books of the Week: Since we are talking about tests, I thought it appropriate to mention two book series whose protagonists have tests thrown at them from every side. The first series is Percy Jackson, a pre-teen boy thrust into a world he doesn’t understand. From the moment he sets foot in Half-Blood Hill, he must continuously prove himself while learning his true identity.
Similarly, the Harry Potter series also begins with a pre-teen boy who is unaware of his identity. Harry must figure out who he is while the people all around him know significantly more about his situation than he does.
The Percy Jackson books are written from Percy’s point of view, while Harry’s story is told from a third-person point of view. I hope you’ll enjoy these books as much as I do.
Joke of the Week: How do carpenters get certified? They take a board test.
Nugget of Wisdom of the Week: One of the things I reviewed with my English and Language Arts (ELA) class before Spring Break was test-taking strategies. We started with the obvious, such as “don’t answer letter C on all of the test questions” or “don’t recite eeny, meeny, miney, mo to choose a random answer.”
In all seriousness, it’s important to read through the questions before an exam so you’ll know what material you are looking for to answer the question correctly. Also, it helps to eliminate options you know are not the answer, then make your best guess.
It stands to reason that we have not only the literal tests in our lives, but also tests that come in the form of hard decisions. Sometimes we get so bogged down with the weight of having to make a decision that we forget how to wisely make these decisions.
Get advice from family members and friends about whether you should pursue a particular option. I have always been one to ask other people for feedback about the effectiveness of my writing, whether it be my novels or the blog. Listen to others, weigh their recommendations, and then go with your gut instinct. Intuition plays a significant part in choosing the right path.
If all else fails, you could try the Benjamin Franklin way of making decisions. Old Ben would create a list of pros and cons, then weigh them out, thus making the decision based on which side was more profitable. Just realize that the cons—those things preventing you from potentially doing something—can be just as valuable as the pros that tell you to move ahead.
Recipe of the Week: Taco Pizza
What you’ll need:
1 pizza crust
1 small jar of taco sauce
½-1 lb. seasoned ground beef, cooked and drained
8 oz. Mexican cheese, grated
1-2 cups lettuce, shredded
1 tomato, diced
Place the pizza crust on a baking pan. Spread the taco sauce in a thin layer over the dough. Sprinkle the ground beef to desired covering. Sprinkle with grated cheese, if desired (or wait to add the cheese until after baking). Bake as directed until the dough is desired crispness. Add the shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes (as well as the grated cheese, if not added already) and any other desired toppings. Slice pizza into easy-to-hold sections and serve with other taco favorites, such as sliced black olives, guacamole, sour cream, spicy rice, or a side of refried beans or Mexican corn.
Shout-Out of the Week: This week, I want to give a shout-out to everyone who is administering and monitoring TCAP tests across the state. It is not for the faint of heart. Also, a huge shout-out for the students taking these tests. You’ve got this!
Have a great weekend. Remember, you are most awesome, and YOU ROCK!
Marion Rhines is a foster-turned-adoptive parent. She lives in Knoxville, Tenn., with her husband and five children. She has written and published two children’s books as well as two foster-care-themed novels. She has a Facebook blog, Tips from the FLIP Side, and enjoys working with children of all ages.
