Customer Reviews

FIRST GRADE TAKES A TEST

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

..."First Grade Takes a Test” is an excellent, multicultural book that should be in every elementary classroom, especially Kindergarten thru 3rd grades...For it’s use in demonstrating that the really important things in life aren’t measurable, and even as a tool for helping students understand and interpret poorly worded questions (and there will always be a handful of them on any standardized test), the book is invaluable. Highly recommended from this early childhood teacher.

Very enjoyable and reader friendly. Children relate to the situation, especially with the current pressure of standardized testing by the state agencies. Children love the ending... Friends are more important then testing results...

I remember this book fondly from my childhood, I used to read it to my little sister who is 4 years younger than me. I still remember her reaction "First Grade Takes A Test was good!" I was so proud that i could read it and was a special moment between us.

I have to disagree with some of the comments made by other reviewers. This is a fabulous read aloud for intermediate and upper elementary students, as well as for their parents during Meet the Teacher night. With so much more pressure placed on students (and teachers!) as a result of NCLB, this book has a fabulous underlying message that goes beyond the unkindness of name calling - that kids are not defined by the tests that they are forced to take. I bought my copy when it was out of print and I'm delighted to see that it can be purchased new.

Do not waste your money on this book. Anna Maria does very well on a standardized test in first grade and is sent to another class. We are to assume it is a gifted class. Instead of celebrating the child's strengths, the teacher explains to the rest of the class that they are good at other things. Anna Maria keeps stopping by to remind them to water the plants, etc. until she finally quits the GT class and tells her original class "First Grade needs me." Nothing is said about Anna Maria's educational needs being met.

Let's picture this story in another setting. Say Anna Maria was an outstanding sports star. The coach puts her on varsity. Can you imagine Anna Maria going back to JV, "because JV needs me"? Or, let's say that Anna Maria needed to go to speech class. Would the focus of the book be that she shouldn't go to a "special" class? Of course not. This book is an insult to GT kids, their parents, and the teachers who work with them. The only positive thing about this book is Lilian Hoban's illustrations. Too bad they are wasted on such a poor story.

Written by Miriam Cohen, a defender of the emotional rights of children, and warmly illustrated by award-winning artist Ronald Himler, First Grade Takes a Test is a book for young children about keeping test-taking in perspective. When a lady from the principal's office brings a test to the first-grade class, the children have some trouble because none of the answers seem quite right. For example, one question says "Rabbits eat: [] lettuce [] dog food [] sandwiches", yet young George can't find "carrots" on the list - and he knows that if rabbits don't eat carrots, their teeth will grow too long and hurt them. When the test is over, Anna Maria goes to a special class because she did very well, which provokes unrest and even name-calling "Dummy!" among the other children. It takes the wisdom of their teacher to put the test results in their proper context. "The test doesn't tell everything. It doesn't tell all the things you can do! You can build things! You can read books! You can make pictures! You have good ideas! And another thing. The test doesn't tell you if you are a kind person who helps your friends. Those are important things." First Grade Takes a Test celebrates the importance of all types of learning - reading and math as well as social skills - and the importance of not reading too much into a rigorous but limited test, especially at a young age. Highly recommended.

ISBN 044042500x - This is actually an okay book, despite the "dummy" comments. I find it refreshingly realistic to "hear" kids calling each other "dummies". Sure, it's not P.C., but it's realistic: kids in real life call each other names. Any parent would pause the reading and take advantage of the chance to explain why it's not nice to call one another names. Still, if you're offended by that, by all means, skip this book.

The kids in first grade are taking a test, and most of them seem to have trouble. Wanting to give answers that aren't available options in the multiple-choice answers, they find their own ways to respond. When the test results come back, Anna Maria is invited to join a "special class", because she did very well on the test. The other kids feel bad about the fact that they didn't do as well and call each other - and themselves! - dummies. Their teacher (who never gets a name) tells them that tests aren't the most important thing and that tests can't tell them everything. It can't tell how good they are at sports, or how good a person they are, etc. Meanwhile, Anna Maria seems to suffer from separation anxiety, as she keeps popping back into her old class. In the end, Anna Maria returns to her class by her own choice.

By no means am I saying this is the finest book I've ever read, but I've always liked realism in books for young kids. At the very least, bad behavior allows a parent to teach a thing or two while they read. The drawings are cute, not spectacular, but cute, and they compliment the story well.

- AnnaLovesBooks

While the topic is on tests this is not accurate for what takes place in a standard first grade classroom - plus the kids use the word "dummy".

The illustrations do capture the expressions of the children and adults in the classroom. They listen intently to the lady from the principal's office" when she visits them with a box of papers. These boxes contained some tests. All the students were lined up in their desks with pencils in hand as the teacher explained to read the questions carefully. Then take your pencil and fill in the box next to the right answer. You must work quickly."

George was the first to raise his hand and ask a question. It seems that the first set of questions were puzzling to George. rabbits eat: lettuce, dog food, sandwiches.

The next question was just as puzzling to Sammy when asking what firemen do. This time he nudged another student to tell him what he thought about firemen getting their heads stuck. The next question is even better because the picture is of a girl and boy and the student has to pick which one is taller. This time Jim struggled with trying to figure out what kind of sandwich the girl was holding and what that had to do with the picture.

When the teacher informed the students that it was time to stop taking the tests many of them hollered out they were not finished. Anna Maria was the only one who had completed the test on time and boasted to the others how easy it was. The next day the lady from the principal's office stopped by to take Anna Maria down the hall to a new classroom. " Anna Maria is in the special class because she did a good test!

This is when they all started calling each other "dummy". On these pages the students have been seen drawing with crayons, building blocks, petting a rabbit in a cage and playing with a stuffed animal. The girls always had on sweaters over their dresses with the boys in overalls and long striped shirts. Their teacher wore flowery dresses and had a vase of flowers on her desk.

I thought First Grade Takes A Test did not accurately portray what takes place daily in the first grade. It seemed similar to Kindergarten instead, then again school standards have changed a lot since this was printed.

The illustrations appear to be watercolor and have the little dots for the eyes, nose and mouth. At least the children were drinking from milk cartons with straws which is not always the case now at school functions. Teachers certainly do not dress like this anymore nor do the children.

I bought this book because I read other customers' good review comments. I have to say "Don't buy it"! The book is only introduce you some simple procedures on how to take a test. With your common sense, you will be able to tell your child all about it. Plus, the price is really a rob. ... I was fooled. I hope you won't.

I have read this book for years with my first grade students. They can relate to the children in the story who take a general test. While one child does very well on the test, some others feel poorly about themselves for "not being smart". The teacher puts a stop to those negative feelings. The story provides me with a valuable opportunity to discuss everyone's unique qualities and the things each of us are good at or knowledgeable about.