Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring to you what we love, talking with you about workshop, literacy, writing, reading, and real world teaching. 

Spring brings blossoms, singing birds, little bunnies, and tests.  The testing season places extra stress on students and teachers. Trying to figure out how to prepare students for the high stakes test while maintaining an authentic workshop becomes difficult to balance.  The temptation to teach to the test is strong! 

In this episode, Jacob alludes to a book he is reading regarding the history of education and how high stakes testing became a main part of our educational system. Jacob and Pam express how they work through the testing season and reflect on their practices.

They determine that it is important to teach the students to read, write and think for long term gains rather than teach to the test for short term gains. Workshop is the best way to meet all the needs of the students and get them ready for all types of assessments from high stakes testing to those found in everyday life.

Join Jacob and Pam while they share how the high stakes season is impacting their instructional practice.  The struggle to balance the Reading and Writing workshop while preparing the students for the test is real!

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