Testing Miss Malarkey

Miss Malarkey

by Judy Finchler, Kevin O'Malley

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.

Genres: Picture Books, School, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Childrens, Humor, Teachers

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Davelowusa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a picturebook about high-stakes testing and the absurd anxiety that educators, parents, and children feel during testing season. It's a great premise, and the book certainly surfaces some of the absurdities of the accountability era. Unfortunately, there's no rejoinder. After the kids take the test (and score #1 on it, leading to a celebration in the teachers lounge), things go right back to normal, like at the end of a weekly sitcom. There's no mention of the lasting impact of testing on children's psyches, no discussion of the time wasted preparing these kids to fill in bubbles (time that could have been spent creating, inquiring, problem solving, or playing), no hint that standardized testing is a classist enterprise that reinforces social stratifications. Would this sort of criticality be expecting too much of a picturebook? I don't think so. Dr. Seuss managed it in Hooray for Diffendoofer Day.

The underlying message of this book is that the status quo of the testing movement is silly, and while we can surely admit that it's silly, we cannot challenge it. We can only acquiesce to it and try to do our best. To be fair, this book was written before NCLB, AYP, Race to the Top, Michelle Rhee et al., or the charterization and privatization movements made it clear that public education, and especially schools in poor communities, are under attack. Still, I don't care for the message of docility in a book meant for children. I want books that encourage children to speak truth to power, and I think that young readers are capable of reading much more critical texts. Do I think a picturebook should use words like neoliberalism or social reproduction? No. But a book that doesn't call out the testing movement as a greedy apparatus for teaching children to compete with one another in the grand capitalistic tradition -- and chooses instead to portray our preoccupation with tests as merely silly -- is a book that hugely misses the mark.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is nothing short of appropriate as CRCT testing is on our horizon. This is a hilarious text that paints a pretty accurate picture of what I've observed in my placement. With CRCT testing on the way, my 3rd grade teachers are in a frenzy to make sure their students understand what they'll be tested on. Students are practicing filling in the bubbles and are hearing phrases such as "You need to get this. It's going to be on the CRCT!" It's definitely a weird environment for my 3rd graders who haven't had to experience this before this year.
This would be a fun book to read before or even after any major tests! Take it easy!

[(NS) - Heather Hayman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book about current standardized testing within our culture revolves around a community who is obsessed with student ppreparation and performance. The title gives away the actual joke, however, with the teachers truly being the 'judged' ones. As Miss Malarkey prepares her class, she becomes totally stressed. While she tries to keep it cool, she is surrounded by students who literally eat 'brain food' for lunch. While the story ends with positive results, readers will only get the joke surrounding this book if they have experienced this type of hysteria.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one made me laugh out loud. I especially liked it when the cafeteria worker told the students: "Fish is good brain food. Some of you should eat a whale."

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel this book is the weakest of the Miss Malarkey tales, and yet it is the one I feel drawn to every single year about this time as teachers approach the standardized EQAO testing (in Ontario) and the world of school rapidly spirals out of control. I think the failing of this title is that it is written more for teachers and staff than it is for the kids. The same is true of the other Miss Malarkey tales but while "Doesn't Live in Room 10" and "You're a Good Sport" remain accessible through examining point of view, this title is really only humorous to those who have lived through the administration of standardized tests in an educational setting.

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was perfect for first or second grade students who are being introduced to standardized testing. I liked how the book was informational about "THE TEST", but explained it in a way that is interesting to kids and easy to understand. It will definately ease the students' minds about the stresses of testing. The illustrations are also fun. They are very colorful and animated, and also incorporate children of different races so that everyone is represented. Great choice, I highly recommend it.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

HAHAHA this book is awesome! It's a picture book that tells the story of standardized testing through the eyes of students. It's hilarious because the students document how totally stressed out the teachers become about the tests and show how the whole atmosphere in the school changes during testing. I loved this. I'm not quite sure if anyone other than teachers would find it as amusing but I LOVED IT.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read particularly during testing week. It's about the only book I know that addresses standardized testing. It's humorous and keys into the little things teachers worry about.

I like how the characters are named after their jobs (gym teacher is Fitanuff, lunch lady is Ms. Slopdown, etc.).

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for introducing state testing.

[Hannah Parks · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Testing Miss Malarkey," by Judy Finchler is a story that demonstrates the silliness of standardized testing from the perspective of both students, teachers, and school administrators. The story follows Miss. Malarkey's class as they prepare for 'THE TEST,' along with the aftermath.

I believe this book does a great job at showcasing some of the crazy things we do in the name of success on standardized testing. We spend time teaching kids how to fill in bubbles correctly instead of working in our content areas and learning becomes a second priority compared to the importance of doing well on 'THE TEST.' However, this book does not challenge the logic of testing or end in any moral. It just accepts that the test has happened and now it is over. While I think that this would make a great read aloud during testing season, I also believe that it should be followed up with a discussion on the fact that tests do not determine anybodys worth. Along with that, students could write about what they are anxious about on the test and the class could spend time talking about coping strategies for stress. Students could also be assigned to come up with a better way of assessing student progress in their content area.

[Shelby Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personally, I thought this book could be potentially threatening to read to elementary aged children, especially if some have anxiety when it comes to testing. Middle school students may find this humorous, but for many the reading level would be low for them, so they would most likely not be reading this book. Therefore, I just don't see it fit for an elementary classroom even though that is what age group it seems to be appealing to.
Topics: general testing, standardized testing, eating healthy, stress management, rewards, studying, healthy sleep schedule, visiting the nurse's office, test scores, test scheduling.

[Courtney Conaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

Testing Miss Malarkey was a fun children's book to read. The pictures were very bright and colorful depicting the story very well. Some pictures even took up the whole page. The story from the student's perspective would be engaging for young readers. Because the book is about a standardized test ("THE TEST") coming up, teachers could use this as humorous way to begin preparing their students for testing in their own school. I would recommend this to parents with young children or to teachers who may have students with test anxiety. By the end of the book, the student realizes that the test is really not that important after all.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

For Ages: 6-10

Summary: A class of students who are confused on whats going on and why everyone around them is freaking about this big TEST. However, they work through it and all tensions are released when it is over.

Review: A good novel to show children that a lot of people may get tense for a test but everyone will get through it.

Classroom Use: Have children learn about settings and do an activity involving the setting of the story.

[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was meant to make the drama around state and standardized testing funny but all it did was make me sad. It emphasizes the hidden curriculum around standardized testing and the messages we send kids about it, even if what we say is the opposite. Instead of making testing seem hilarious, it shows that we put our teachers, schools, and students through way too much for a test that does not accurately reflect intelligence. I wish it would have ended with a different message.

[Jocelyn Boop]

Why I chose this book:
I chose this book because it tells a funny story of testing at school.

What I liked about the book:
I liked this book because shows what testing could look like but doesn’t have to look like.

How I would use this book in a future classroom:
I would use this book by reading it to the class after we complete state testing.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute story on how standardized testing drives everyone crazy! Very true 💛💛

[Yvonne Lacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute premise, but doesn't work well as a read-aloud. I think that the humor is pitched at adults; kids looked bewildered.

[Ivy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is kind of fun for the kids to see how much pressure is on teachers for end of year testing. It was a fun read after all the testing was over. The illustrations are hilarious!

[Art · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good send up of the ridiculous lengths schools go to in order to try and raise their scores. I have read it multiple times, but cannot remember how many or specific dates.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun picture book.

[Jennifer Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me giggle over its accuracy. This is our culture now, worried about standardized testing so much that everyone is sick to death over it, when does it really matter?

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is more for grown-ups than kids... I mean I think it's supposed to help the kids understand what's going on... but it's sort of funny for teachers.

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute short story - read it about a month before state testing

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how this shows what tests to do both children, teachers, principles and staff.

[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really shows the high stress and preparedness of standardized testing.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

My second Miss Malarkey book...this one hits too close to home. Miss Malarkey and her whole school are trying to prepare kids for the tests -- the Instructional Perfomance Through Understanding...an armed guard brings the tests to the school. The principal has a melt-down over #2 pencis being delivered. Kids see the adults around them acting more and more deranged. At the parent meeting, questions are asked: "Will this test hinder my son's Ivy League chances? Should I be concerned about perfomance anxiety? How will the test affect real estate prices?"

Too close to truth to be entertaining...my only chuckle was when the lunch lady started serving ONLY fish, telling the kids, "Fish is good brain food. Some of you should eat a whale," and in line we see a little gori with a picture of a whale on her shirt with the words, "Earth's Biggest Mammal" on the front.

This book is clever and pointed and sad. The author, a school librarian, has nailed it...the climate of fear, the anxiety. Art teachers and PE teachers are teaching to the test...everyone is uptight. And for what?

The TEST....

Sad, sad, sad. The last page made me want to cry.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most elementary school-age children (especially nowadays) can relate to the extra stress and emphasis placed on the standardized testing that is part of the American public education system. I think, however, that some of the humor of this story would be lost on children and more appreciated by teachers and parents and others involved in the school system. The unreality of the weight of this type of test is unbearable for many, but seems to be the metric by which we have decided to grade our schools. In any case, we enjoy the books in the Miss Malarkey series by Judy Finchler and Kevin O'Malley and we will look for more of these books at our local library.

[Kandice Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a student noticing how the entire school staff begins to act weird when "THE TEST" is around the corner. The test is the state test and every school has to take. The student notices how the teacher is stressed,the principal is yelling, the lunch lady is not serving potato chips anymore, and his mom is having him fill out ditto sheets before he goes to bed. After the test everything goes back to normal. This is a wonderful book to read to children before they take the standardized state test at school. This would be a great ice breaker for the teacher to read and have the students ask the questions they have about testing.

[Katie Nanney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me laugh. It reminded me a lot about the stress that comes with testing for both teachers and staff at school. The teachers do their best not to stress out the children during testing time and sometimes they end up being stressed out themselves in the process. I would like to read this book to my class of third, fourth, or fifth graders right before testing week or after testing week. Testing is hard and children need to laugh a little at the silliness that sometimes comes with testing time.

[Kelly Powell]

This book was quite the other perspective that younger students may have on testing that I was never aware of. As a teacher it is important to know that your students pick up on your nerves and luckily my teacher never acted this way so I wasn’t nervous other than the fact that I was taking a test. As a future teacher this book showed me that I need to be calm and reassuring for my students because everyone acts differently about things and just because I tested well as a child doesn’t mean my students will or that they wont be nervous.