Hi Robin and Anne –

I’m hoping to find a time next week to schedule a meeting with you (and hopefully including Abby too) re: test taking. I didn’t hear back from you last week and she has her first quiz in math this coming Thursday. She has already begun talking with me about it as she starts to wonder if she’ll be able to finish the test.

Thanks for your help,

Kathy Kearny

From: kathykearny@comcast.net <kathykearny@comcast.net>

Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 8:00 AM

To: ‘Anne Duffy’ <aduffy@eastsideprep.org>; ‘rchristy@eastsideprep.org’ <rchristy@eastsideprep.org>

Subject: RE: Abby Kearny – Algebra 2 final

Hi Robin –

I was wondering if you were able to meet with us to discuss test taking, particularly in math, for Abby. She has a good understanding of concepts, but has repeatedly not been able to finish exams or been right up to the time limit on quizzes. She wasn’t able to finish 2 finals last year in Geometry and that issue has carried forward to this year.  Below is the email exchange with Anne and I after this last trimester’s final for context.

What would be a good date schedule wise?

Thanks,

Kathy Kearny

From: kathykearny@comcast.net <kathykearny@comcast.net>

Sent: Friday, March 22, 2019 11:26 AM

To: ‘Anne Duffy’ <aduffy@eastsideprep.org>

Subject: RE: Abby Kearny – Algebra 2 final

Hi Anne –

Thanks for your feedback. I think meeting with Robin also would be worthwhile. I have feeling that your intuition might be right, but I also don’t want to brush off the obvious anxiety Abby is developing. I’d really like to help her find strategies to testing so she can feel like she successfully is able to convey her knowledge of the subject. I’d love to have your help with these strategies. This is something I don’t have much experience with. Abby’s older sister is a fast reader and test taker, so we haven’t had to deal with it before.

Have a great weekend,

Kathy

From: Anne Duffy <aduffy@eastsideprep.org>

Sent: Friday, March 22, 2019 11:15 AM

To: Katherine Kearny <kathykearny@comcast.net>

Subject: RE: Abby Kearny – Algebra 2 final

Hi Kathy,

I will forward your email to our director of learning support, Robin Christy.

She is out until after spring break and won’t be able to send a reply or schedule a meeting until after break.

Nothing of what I have seen of Abby sends signals to me about her need for extra time and going through the process of formal testing to have that approved but it may still be worth meeting with Robin to discuss.

I have worked with students in the past that have had issues with timing related to math and chemistry tests. What is usually comes down to (normally) is a student that has done adequate or more than adequate preparation on content but then struggles with self-doubt.  Building in timing practice through out the course (and I am happy to start that with Abby next trimester) helps most of those students move past their timing issues on exams.

Thanks for your support at home. I hope Abby enjoys her EBC experience and you all enjoy the spring break.

Best,

Anne

From: kathykearny@comcast.net <kathykearny@comcast.net>

Sent: Friday, March 22, 2019 10:46 AM

To: Anne Duffy <aduffy@eastsideprep.org>

Subject: RE: Abby Kearny – Algebra 2 final

Hi Anne –

Thanks for your response. I was wondering what you thought about meeting with one of the learning support people to see what they thought? As we talked about in our advisor meeting at the beginning of the year she has had some trouble in the past finishing math exams and sometimes science. She also told me that she has had you need to take quizzes from her because she was working up to the last minute. I’m hoping you can help me understand how she is testing.

At home she was very anxious last night and this morning about not finishing and last night was extending it to not being able to do well on the SAT and ACT, get into college etc….

Would you know who the appropriate person at EPS is to meet with and get some direction? I’m hoping to be able to have a meeting in place (hopefully including you as her teacher and advisor) at the beginning of the spring trimester.

Thanks so much for your help,

Kathy

From: Anne Duffy <aduffy@eastsideprep.org>

Sent: Friday, March 22, 2019 7:54 AM

To: Katherine Kearny <kathykearny@comcast.net>

Subject: RE: Abby Kearny – Algebra 2 final

Hi Kathy,

I’m sorry that Abby felt so upset about her math final. I haven’t graded them yet to provide any comfort.

Final exams are set to run 90 minutes. The only students that are allowed extra time are students who have been tested and have documented needs through our learning support center.

I am happy to talk to Abby individually about test taking strategies so that she doesn’t find herself in that situation again.

Hope this helps clarify things,

Anne

From: kathykearny@comcast.net <kathykearny@comcast.net>

Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2019 10:29 PM

To: Anne Duffy <aduffy@eastsideprep.org>

Subject: Abby Kearny – Algebra 2 final

Hi Anne –

Abby came home from finals today pretty upset that she wasn’t able to finish her final. She is extremely worried that she will receive a bad grade. I know at home she’s worked hard to improve her comprehension from the mid-term report. She prepared well for the test at home this week and told me what is upsetting is that she knows all the concepts being tested.

Can you help give us some guidance on this? She is really worried about a bad grade and also thinks that there is nothing she can do to help the situation.

Thanks so much. I really appreciate your insight.

Kathy