Testing Miss Malarkey by Judy Finchler

Genre: Realistic Fiction, Picture Book
Theme: Standardized tests, doing your best, school
Grade Level: K-2
Curricular Connections: All subjects. Teachers connect their subject to the upcoming tests. Art class focuses on neat circles. Gym class does "yogurt" to focus the mind and body.

Miss Malarkey is a good teacher, but suddenly starts acting weird. She announces the class will be taking THE TEST: The Instructional Performance Through Understanding test. The I.P.T.U. Now everything is focused on the test. They play Multiplication Mambo. They watch "There's Something About Decimals." The cafeteria serves brain food - fish. They practice filling in circles neatly. Moms starting handing out worksheets for bedtime stories. There are special PTA meetings.

After the test, things are back to normal. There are potato chips and peanut butter and jelly again. Miss Malarkey isn't chewing her nails. Principal Wiggins isn't yelling so much. Why? The last page shows the teachers in the teachers' lounge celebrating under a banner that reads, "#1 IPTU #1 COUNTY CHAMPIONS" After reading a book where the students get tested, the title now makes perfect sense.

Classroom Suggestions:

1. Use as an introduction to standardized testing in the classroom. (Older grades would benefit too.) Discuss what they have done to prepare for the I.P.T.U. and what your class has done. Is their sort of preparations necessary? Reading the book can simply relieve some test anxiety students may have.