Sunday, September 10, 2006
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Just Published
The fictional tale Nobody Left Behind: One Child’s Story about Testing chronicles nine-year-old Jeffery Taylor’s struggle with the all-too-common problem of test anxiety.“There is a great need for this book!”—Mary Allan, 2004 California Teacher of the Year
Sometimes tests prove very little and somebody gets left behind even when they’re thinking. Since standardized testing became a priority for schools, nine-year-old Jeffery Taylor’s academic life has become pure torture. He suffers from a condition called test anxiety: when he takes a test, his stomach aches, his eyes hurt, he feels like his head is going to blow up, and, at times, he visibly trembles.
Jeff’s active imagination hasn’t helped his success at school either—especially if he’s drawing when he’s supposed to be working on other subjects. But schoolwork is not his only problem. His classmate, Matt Huggins, is a real pest, and Jeff and his best friend, Terry, are growing apart. But Jeff is delighted when he meets a new friend who helps him to face his academic challenges. Testing is a tremendous issue in schools today. It can have a lasting effect on funding as schools balance the need to meet accountability standards with the desire to provide learning to students. But most importantly, it can result in test anxiety which has a lasting effect on children.
In Nobody Left Behind, author Deanna Enos uses storytelling as an example of how to begin a dialogue between children, teachers, and parents concerning this important subject.
• Discussion Questions
• Activities for Art and Writing
• Test Taker Tips
To order a single copy of Nobody Left Behind click here. To order mutliple copies for your school or organization click here.
Reviews
I thoroughly enjoyed your very poignant story about Jeffs experience with testing.
Students, parents, teachers and administrators will see themselves within the context of the story, and it is a catalyst for a lot of reflection on the part of the reader. The child's VOICE is loud and clear!!
I see the book used in some ofthe following ways:
-parent support groups reading and reflecting on their experience of the story
-teachers using it as a read-aloud in the classroom and including a lot of
discussion, as well as your suggested activities
-faculty groups using it as a professional "book read" and discussing/writing personal reflections looking at "the possibilities" for change in test prep/giving
-district personnel reading it with their principals and having similar discussions, reflecting on their own M.O. 're testing
-constituents giving it to the politicians to read
-I liked your use of imagery throughout.
- You beautifully captured Jeff's sense of curiosity, vivid imagination, and "other intelligences."
-Including questions Jeff had as he was thinking, helped me "really get" that he was doing some actual thinking.
-Parents and teachers will resonate with you writing what "he heard" when interacting with his mom and Ms. Radner ~ it's done in a way to create understanding.
-It felt very REAL.
Mary Allan, 2004 - Calfornia Teacher of the Year
Students, parents, teachers and administrators will see themselves within the context of the story, and it is a catalyst for a lot of reflection on the part of the reader. The child's VOICE is loud and clear!!
I see the book used in some ofthe following ways:
-parent support groups reading and reflecting on their experience of the story
-teachers using it as a read-aloud in the classroom and including a lot of
discussion, as well as your suggested activities
-faculty groups using it as a professional "book read" and discussing/writing personal reflections looking at "the possibilities" for change in test prep/giving
-district personnel reading it with their principals and having similar discussions, reflecting on their own M.O. 're testing
-constituents giving it to the politicians to read
-I liked your use of imagery throughout.
- You beautifully captured Jeff's sense of curiosity, vivid imagination, and "other intelligences."
-Including questions Jeff had as he was thinking, helped me "really get" that he was doing some actual thinking.
-Parents and teachers will resonate with you writing what "he heard" when interacting with his mom and Ms. Radner ~ it's done in a way to create understanding.
-It felt very REAL.
Mary Allan, 2004 - Calfornia Teacher of the Year
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