First Grade Takes a Test

by Miriam Cohen

This timely book, reissued with new art, goes right to the heart of the school testing issue. When the principal sends a lady to administer a test to the first grade class, the children find that none of the proffered answers are exactly right and they have trouble with the test. Fortunately, their teacher knows what is really important: being creative and being a good friend, positive traits that a standardized exam cannot test for. This is a great book to remind people that doing well on a test is not all that matters in the classroom.

Genres: School, Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[David Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Text-to-Self Connection

This book by Miriam Cohen was first released in 1980. I remember my first grade teacher, Mrs. King, reading it to us in the spring of 1987. We were getting ready for some sort of standardized testing and she read this book to us to calm any fears that may have existed. I vividly remember her telling us that while the testing was important, it would not show us everything we good at or everything that we know.

I never did remember the name of the book, so I am glad I was able to find it here and have the chance to read it in 33 years. The lessons Mrs. King taught us about testing have stayed with me over the years and I feel that they have helped me put things, such as test scores, into perspective. There are a lot of factors that go into a quality education and test scores are only a fraction of that.

[Mackenzie Mahler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was a great read not only for children but adults as well. This book not only was illustrated well but it had a great lesson and message inside as well. This book puts emphasis on the importance of friendships rather than the importance of doing well on a test. It teaches students that everyone has different areas of strength but something a test cannot teach them is the importance of friendships and sticking by each other’s side. It shows kids that there are more important things in life than doing well on a test and comparing each other’s “intelligence” on a test.

[Julian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I detest testing kids and this book really let's kids realize that tests do not dictate how smart they are. It's sad that our children should feel such anxiety about these ridiculous test that have nothing to do with our children actually know. It would be nice to hear more teachers telling our kids that. 1st-2nd grade

[Emme Koutz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A first grade class is given a test to take. Everybody in the class expect Anna Maria did not finish because they were confused on many questions. The next day Anna Maria was taken to a special class and everybody in the first grade class began to call each other dumb because they did not get into the special class. Their teacher explained that the test does not define who they are and that they are all good at something. Next the teacher brought out cookies and Sara and Danny began to fight about whos was bigger because they were a different shape, so Danny brought out a scale then everyone went back to work doing what they were good at. In the end Anna Maria came back to her first grade class because she knew they needed her. The cookie part of this story really confused me because there was never an explanation to why it was done. I thought that the author was going to use the different shaped cookies as a lesson to show children that not everybody is the same, but once the kid got the scale and placed the cookies on it that was the end of that. I gave this book three stars because I thought was a good read but could be more educational. To me the lesson trying to be shown in this book was not something a child may pick up on on their own. Although, I did like the part where the teacher told everyone that the test does not define who they are. This seemed like the most valuable part in the book.

[Carly Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought at first that this book would be about first grade taking a test like a simple spelling test for first graders, but instead it was a book about first grade taking a state test.It discusses the issues of school testing in a children's story. They had to take it because the school wanted to see how each student did individually. I thought this book was cute and well-written. It made me think about how a lot of school tests cannot measure a lot of an individual's student's abilities. I loved how the pictures added to the text and helped tell the story. I think that this would be a great book to read to any child because it will help them realize that tests cannot show how smart they really are. Each child is unique and smart, and the author of this book does a great job at showing this in the story. There was also very realistic emotions that can be seen in the characters of the story. Overall, a great story!

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite being a picture book, this book seems more aimed at parents and educators. Its message is that standardized testing is a poor measure of children's value, creativity, and even their intelligence. The book is also clearly against gifted programs. If shared with kids, the book may teach incorrect answering of multiple choice test questions.

[Karlie Devenney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great example for students taking tests for the first time. It includes scenarios that may occur as well as examples from the tests. It teaches how students that test do not have to be a scary thing in school.

[Adrianna Kluge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story to read to first graders to help them ease the anxiety of taking a test. There was a lady from the principal's office that brings the test for the first grade class, and when the children don't do too well on the test, it is deeply described that a test doesn't reflect important things like creativity, kindness, and friendship to help them feel better about the test. I rated this 5 stars because is is very relatable foe students.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first grade is taking a test and afterward someone has to go to the special class. How will the children react. LOVED this. Great choice options and realistic emotions. Preschool and up.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the kids' thinking about the test questions. Meh on the child leaving and returning to the class subplot

[Yolanda Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book that I remember reading as a child. It was my FAVORITE book! I definitely consider this book to be a classic!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

great for reading to kids who have anxiety about test taking

[Safina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Award: Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Best Book Award
Grade level: Grades 1-3
Summary: First Grade is getting ready to take a test; the students are nervous, will they pass? One student excels and is removed to an accelerated class. Teacher and students work together to keep learning with joy and without too much fear about tests.
Review: This book addresses a very important aspect of every student 19s life. It offers an opening into a discussion about tests, fear of tests and the relative importance of tests in the learning process. It does a great job focusing on different kinds of talents and important skills the students have besides the ones which can be tested
In Class uses:
-Use in preparation of the first test by reading out loud to lessen stress
-Use as base for discussion about tests
-After reading and discussing the book have children write how they feel about a particular test they took and the results they got.
- have children think of different qualities that make up a (good) person
- have class point out and make a list of what each of their classmates is good at

[Kristy Breese · Rating 4 out of 5]

What? This book deals with the anxiety children face when taking a test. Miriam Cohen shows us that tests don't show every strength a person may have. Tests do not prove how smart a person is compared to another.

So What? I liked the book for the way it displays students' feelings while taking a test. It was humorous to see two boys who read too much into the questions and made it difficult to answer. For instance, George came to a question that asked him to mark the correct answer which read: Rabbits eat, lettuce, dog food, sandwiches. This question stumped George because he knows that rabbits eat carrots, so he added his own answer on the answer sheet.

Now what? I think this will be a cute book to read to a first grade class and try to ease their tension regarding test taking.

[Amanda Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book because although there is a harsh reality in it, there is also a sort of victorious feeling of accomplishment in it. The harsh reality is that this is the way testing looks to children and it is ridiculous to try and base everything a child knows on one simple test. I wish a state official could read this book and I would hope sympathize with children. The victorious part, to me, is that the teacher tells the students that it is okay if they do not score perfectly on the test because what really matters, is how you treat others, kindness, ect... This would be a great book to read to students before a big test is coming up.

[Lyndsey Franceschelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book talks about how a first grade classroom has to take a test but is being timed as well. Out of the whole classroom only one student finishes it, and that girl is then taken to a special classroom and all the students say she's special and they start calling each other dumb because they didn't go to the "special" classroom. But although the little girl, Anna Maria, left every day she reminded the students something new everyday. But then Anna Maria figures out that she wants to stay with her class and one morning when the students come into the classroom she sitting in a rocking chair waiting for them.

[Rosey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a "cute" book for young readers, teaching them what a "test" is, and how it did not define a person.

A class is introduced to a test for the first time, and each reacted to the test differently, and how various consequence came out of the test. This is a good book to introduce children to tests, however I felt the book could have been better and made tests sound more positive, especially for such young readers.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book addresses the issues of labeling children, regardless of whether they are labeled as GT or LD. The labels that are put on children can have negative effects, especially if the child is pulled out of their class where they are familiar with the routine and their classmates. I think this also shows the importance of differentiated instruction for children with special needs, both LD and GT.

[Zilha B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book because it describes how I feel about testing. This book is about a first grade class that has testing. The questions on the test are a bit ridiculous and do not culturally relate to what the students know. The only student who passed the test, Anna Maria, gets pulled out of class to go to a "special class" while the rest of the students feel dumb and stupid. I would use this book during either the first week of school or before/after a test, especially standardized test.

[Bri Grant · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not this book's biggest fan. It was very preachy about the wrong things. The know-it-all girl was still a know-it-all by the end of the story, she just had a change of heart about which classroom she should be in. The students that did poorly on their tests were rewarded anyway. There was no clear moral of the story and I do not think this is a book I would put out for my 1st graders to read one day.

[Kiana Sims]

I love the message that this book conveys to children. I would use this book with kids grades 1-5 because they have alot of testing and they need to know that just because you don't do well on a test doesn't mean you're not smart. It also encourages children to be creative and think outside the box.

[Joanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

We've all been there...the stress, worry, anxiety before a test! The reality is that each day more and more young children are beginning to feel the pressure from test taking. I would read this book to any class before a major test. It's a nice reminder that although tests are important, there is no need to feel anxious as long as you try your best.

[Kyle Baldwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

While testing is a major indicator of student learning and progress, this book shows the negative side of testing. The anxiety, competition among classmates, and unfair categorization that results from testing are illustrated in this book. Can be used to discuss testing rules and hopefully used to relieve anxiety in the classroom before or after a test.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book! This would be an excellent book to read to students when approaching test taking month. Usually students begin to feel really nervous and frighten of standardized testing. This book helps ease the concern that students have for taking test. I would recommend any teacher or parent to read this book to their children.

[Emily Bernd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. In our worl today, it seems that all anyone focuses on anymore is testing adn sadly the students are starting to only worry about testing and their test scores too. The students could really relate to this book and it could calm nerves and lead to great discussions before a time where students have to take standardized tests.

[Rbettermann]

A beautiful picture book that I would recommend for first graders. This book is illustrated by Ronald Himler and his drawings depicts the typical first grade class room with a wide diverse arrangement of students. A book that tells students that being smart on a test is not the only thing that matters.

[Sharlene Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of what happens when 1st graders take a standardized test. It puts you in the mind of the students and how they are feeling. I love the way the teacher explains the test to the students. Great book to use at all levels.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a good book to read before students take a test. It helps remind to just try and do their best. As we know test can be stressful for anyone especially children and sometimes we need a reminder to just relax. There are more important things that define who we are.

[Jillian Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book serves as a reminder that our goal as educators should not be determined by desired test performance. It is also a good book to read to kids who are feeling test anxiety or who are feeling defeated after a test.

[Brooke Birchler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would be a great book to read not only to first graders, but to any grade that is about to take some kind of standardized test. It would help the children to know that these tests do not define them as a person or define their intelligence.