Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Are you smarter than a 6th grader?

Am I smarter than a 6th grader? I'd seriously like to think so. 

This weekend I took my 4th out of 5 MTELs.  I took the General Curriculum - General Subject test.  It's basically information ranging from science, literature, geography, history, the arts, and such and such.  I'd heard it was one of the harder MTELs and really studied like crazy (on top of a hectic and busy semester). 

I'd heard there weren't many official MTEL study guides for this exam and that using a series of books called "What Your _____ Grader Needs to Know" was a really useful way to study. And study I did. 
While studying for and taking the MTELs is a bit annoying, dare I say that I enjoyed reading these books?  And the crazy thing is, I actually was learning about things that I totally did not learn when I was in 5th and 6th grade. I now actually know what the Progressive Era and New Deal were about and why deserts have little to no rain fall.  I always thought I was a fountain of random information, but now I am a serious fountain of information! Of course, I'd love to know why I didn't actually learn this information in 5th and 6th grade, but I guess better late than never.
In true Tamar fashion, I was pretty anxious.  The test was actually pretty challenging.  55 multiple choice questions and a 300 word essay.  Two and half hours later I felt my brain hurting.  Some questions I knew the answers the second I read the question and plenty of others I felt my eyes bulge out of my head.  I really think I did well on the essay, which hopefully makes up the multiple choice questions I was unsure of.

I don't think I bombed it, but it's all about the magic qualifying score.  Now I wait six weeks to find out if the MTEL thinks I am smarter than a 6th grader.  Regardless of what my score report says, I know I am smarter than a sixth grader and that I tried my hardest - and Jeff Foxworthy I'd like to lock in that answer!

Then Sunday night I went out for drinks with some friends from Wheelock.  The pub we went to happened to have pub trivia that night, so of course we had to play along.  What was our team name? I Am Smarter than a 5th grader.  We did pretty well. And by that I mean we came in second to last place out of 5 teams.  We nailed some really random questions though! Like: This Italian made form of transportation is named for the sound it makes and roughly translates to wasp.  Vespa!! We were super stoked we got that one.  So we may not have won, but we are definitely smarter than a 5th grader!

21 thoughts on the matter:

Caseybumpinalong said... {Reply}

Congrats! :) I love Hirsch's books! I read Cultural Literacy a long time ago and was stunned at how much I DIDN'T know.

Freckles & Dimples Photography said... {Reply}

I find my 2nd graders homework facinating! I forgot all the stuff she is now learning (basically history and the presidents) and its nice to have a new context in which to learn about them!

Unknown said... {Reply}

I just read about your graduation post.. Wow! I am super impressed with you! I only wish I had been able to have gone on to university but life got in the way. Thanks for your awesome comment on my posts, I so love reading them. : ) I have no idea what an MTel is.. and lucky me, my kid's school allows 0 homework to be done at home. All must be done by my kid in school at the end of the school day (too many parents were 'helping' their kids do their homework). Curious to see how you did! : )

Buckeroomama said... {Reply}

Nerd that I am, I think I might enjoy these! :)

Unknown said... {Reply}

I am sure you passed it with flying colors. I can't help Kaishon with his math homework. It just blows me away!

Anonymous said... {Reply}

Wow! I am totally not looking forward to when Dustyn gets in school. I don't remember anything. ha ha. I am sure you passed though.

Heather O'Steen Photography said... {Reply}

Good for you!! I KNOW I'm not smarter than a 5th grader (or 6th grader)!!

Diana Lesjak said... {Reply}

I am sure you did great! I do love watching that show every now and then... I know I AM NOT smarter than a five grader!! Glad those helping with homework days are long past for me!

Unknown said... {Reply}

Kudos! I'm so glad my kids are grown and my grandkids don't call me to help them because I'd get brain freeze!

likeschocolate said... {Reply}

You r brave. I would be scared that it might say otherwise.

Jennifer {Studio JRU} said... {Reply}

These actually look interesting! There is probably so much that I don't know! lol Waiting 6 weeks is a bummer... but I am sure you did really well! :)

Jim said... {Reply}

I am sure glad I didn't do that test!!! I'm afraid I am NOT smarter than most 6th graders!!!lol You are a very brave young lady!!

Unknown said... {Reply}

Sometimes I wonder if I am smarter than my 5th grader. :)

Housewife on Fire said... {Reply}

With MANY subjects, I hope I am smarter than a fifth grader...but when it comes to math - I seriously doubt it! ha ha!

Charmaine Poulin said... {Reply}

Hmmmm....I think I need to read those books! I feel like I've lost so much information since having kids! Good luck during your wait....I'm sure you did fantastic!!!

Unknown said... {Reply}

good luck with those results!! We homeschool and I always love relearning everything with my kids!

Anita Johnson said... {Reply}

I'm not so sure I am smarter than a 5th grader anymore...they just learned the stuff, I have to go back through more than 43 years of information. Not so easy. But I excel at "life Experiences". Glad you did well on the essay!

Sian said... {Reply}

I don't think I'd do that test...lol I don't think I want to know if I'm not smarter than a 6th grader...

Serline said... {Reply}

I've long given up and agree I'm no smarter than todays's sixth grader, but then again I can still out-draw and out-cook most people I know, so there's my consolation ;-)

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