Testing Miss Malarkey [Hardcover]

Judy Finchler (Author), Kevin O'Malley (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Series: Miss Malarkey

The new school year brings standardized testing to every school and Miss Malarkey's is no exception. Teachers, students, and even parents are preparing for THE TEST-The Instructional Performance Through Understanding (IPTU) test-and the school is in an uproar. Even though the grown-ups tell the children not to worry, they're acting kind of strange. The gym teacher is teaching stress-reducing yoga instead of sports in gym class. Parents are giving pop quizzes on bedtime stories at night. The cafeteria is serving "brain food" for lunch. The kids are beginning to think that maybe the test is more important than they're being led to believe. Kids and adults alike will laugh aloud as Finchler and O'Malley poke fun at the commotion surrounding standardized testing, a staple of every school's year.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5-This picture book about the current standardized-testing culture will either touch a funny bone or a nerve. A school community is obsessed with students' preparation and performance on the Instructional Performance Through Understanding test (IPTU). The title gives away the actual joke: it is the teachers whose futures are on the line. As Miss Malarkey prepares her class, she becomes increasingly frazzled as test time approaches. Although she tries to reassure students that "THE TEST" is not important, the atmosphere tells a different story. Children play Multiplication Mambo at recess, eat brain food in the cafeteria, and learn to meditate in gym. While they seem immune to the adult panic, the tension spreads to their parents who abandon bedtime stories for textbook drills and attend a PTA meeting with Dr. Scoreswell, "the Svengali of tests." It is disappointing that the final illustration shows that all the hysteria has had positive results, as the faculty celebrates the school's status as #1 IPTU County Champions. O'Malley's colorful cartoons extend the slapstick, over-the-top humor. Readers will get the joke if they have experienced our society's testing mania. The appreciation by school professionals may depend on their perception of whether the laughs are at the expense of the testing process, society, or the teachers themselves.
Kate McClelland, Perrot Memorial Library, Old Greenwich, CT
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 6-9. Miss Malarkey is back, this time dealing with standardized tests, but the tone of this story is surprisingly sarcastic. The Principal is literally flipping his wig over which pencils to order, students in art class learn the correct way to fill in circles, and Mr. Fitanuff is teaching yoga to help de-stress kids before the test. Even worse, children are denied recess, and parents are concerned about property values. The last illustration shows teachers celebrating under a banner proclaiming "County Champions," but it's clear the children are unaware of the honor. Listeners will enjoy the silly humor and joyful, creative illustrations, with thought balloons providing snappy asides, but the book may be most appealing to adults who have already done their share of test preparation. Marta Segal
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Walker Childrens; First Edition first Printing edition (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802787371
• ISBN-13: 978-0802787378
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,675,460 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Testing Miss Malarkey" Passes the Test!, September 10, 2000

By 

Mrs. Debbie Byrd (Dayton, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Testing Miss Malarkey (Hardcover)

Having been on both sides of the coin, as a teacher preparing students for 'high stakes' tests, and as a writer of some them, I find this book to be right on the mark! I highly recommend it to students of all ages and teachers alike! The light-hearted approach to the subject of testing helps to put things in perspective. Research has shown that the attitude of significant adults-teachers, administrators, and parents, greatly impacts student self-esteem, expectations, and performance where testing is concerned. Use the book as a read-aloud to classses of any age, share it among the staff, and lend it to the parents. It has something to offer everyone, and truly passes the test!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Miss Malarkey is Back!, March 12, 2001

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Testing Miss Malarkey (Hardcover)

"The Test"...Miss Malarkey said it wasn't important, it's not on your report cards, there's no extra homework and whether you do well or not, you still get promoted to the next grade. Okay, so why is she biting her nails? And why are we playing Multiplication Mambo and Funny Phonics at recess? The principal is tense and worried about number 2 pencils. The cafeteria is only serving fish, brain food. In art we're practicing filling in small circles and in gym, Mr Fittanuff is teaching us yoga. It's even a little weird at home. After my mom read me my bedtime story, she made me complete a review sheet before I could go to sleep. Finally the day of "The Test" arrives..... Judy Finchler and Kevin O'Malley have written and illustrated a charming, witty story, both youngsters and adults will really be able to identify with, that pokes fun at all the standardized test-taking kids are faced with these days. Their easy to read, true to life text and funny, expressive artwork will have teachers, students and parents laughing out loud as everyone goes a little overboard getting ready for "The Test." And after testing week, as everybody and everything gets back to normal, Miss Malarkey's class decides that maybe "The Test" really wasn't that important after all!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, May 8, 2001

By 

L. Forster (CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Testing Miss Malarkey (Hardcover)

If you are a teacher who is giving a standardized test, this is the book for you! Our Media Clerk put this book in the staff lounge. It was an instant hit with us all! Reading about Miss Malarkey and her experiences with the "IPTU" test was just the "tension breaker" I needed! I found that I had said many of the same things to my students that she had! "No, this won't affect your grade" and "Yes, you will get to go to the next grade, even if you don't do well on this test." Bravo, Judy Finchler!!