Testing Miss Malarkey

by Judy Finchler

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802776248
• ISBN13: 9780802776242
• Release Date: August 2003
• Publisher: Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 8.5" x 10.9"
• Age Range: 6 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 4

Customer Reviews

Someone who finally gets it

I purchased this book in preparation for a presentation on standardized testing. It definitely added some humor to the dull subject.How amazing that a "children's" book can get the idiocy of high-stakes testing, but we in education can't do enough to lower the stakes.A must for any educator trying to make the point of how silly the tests are--or anyone trying to lower the anxiety level just before test time.

Testing, shmesting!

Slapstick,over-the top humor, that can appeal to a wide age group! Also a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor for adults and older kids. Great satire! The outrageous illustrations and plot correspond well to the outrageousness of a week of testing that each year puts whole school districts throughout our country in a tailspin! Great picture book with nice balance: Illustrations make the characters likeable and endearing. They workhand-in-hand with the text to gently, humorously chide adults for too much malarkey, Miss Malarkey, and for subjecting our students to I-P-T-U testing. J. Finchler, are you coming up with a sequel? Maybe on what state legislators will do with the RESULTS of these tests? Please reserve a copy for me now!!

Fantastic!

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!!

Miss Malarkey is Back!

"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!

"Testing Miss Malarkey" Passes the Test!

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!