How I Tricked My Students on April Fools’ Day

Today is April Fools’ Day, and I just knew my students were going to be bombarding me with all kinds of foolish things; I wanted to join in on the fun. I perused Pinterest for ideas, and came up with absolutely nothing.

I found a gibberish document somewhere online and modified it for my students. When they entered the classroom I explained I had bad news. Mr. Paliughi (our principal) wanted me to make sure all students took an ELA Placement test ASAP; I explained that I couldn’t help them and I couldn’t answer any questions. I suggested they all read the document closely, use all of the reading strategies they learned throughout the year, and support their answers with evidence.

Once they logged on to Google Classroom, they got this document:

Screen Shot 2015-04-01 at 9.45.49 AM

 

They got to work. They took this “ELA Placement” test seriously. I got a few blank stares and a ton of confused faces, but nearly every student tried their best to take this “test”!

April

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I finally told them to scroll down and click the link to turn in their test, and that directive was met with, “WHAT?! I’m not finished!”

Once they clicked the link and saw the image below, several students shouted, “ARE YOU SERIOUS?”

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It took a few students to drag themselves from racing to finish their placement test to realize it was all a joke.

🙂 🙂

Sorry, guys and girls! 

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