A sixth-grade teacher from Bucklebury Primary School in England has given her students tasks that they have to comply while preparing for the Standard Assessment Tests (SATs). But instead of adding more pressure to the kids, the teacher actually gave them a "fun homework." The list has now gone viral on social media.
BBC reports that Mrs. Thom gave her students a list of activities to do on the weekend before the exams. These included eating ice cream, seeing friends, watching their favorite TV shows and enjoying the outdoors.
She also advised the kids to revise the tasks if needed and prohibited them from worrying about the exams. "Mrs. Thom is in charge of worrying - you don't need to. You are all amazing and I couldn't be more proud of you," the teacher ended her list, which was first shared on the Eyfs Matters (Early Years Foundation Stage) Facebook page.
Have a great weekend everyone especially Y6 pic.twitter.com/YagliRrICE
— Bucklebury Primary (@bucklebury_sch) May 6, 2016
The post has since received over 76,000 reactions and 3,000 comments. It was also shared nearly 70,000 times on social media. "I'm very fortunate - my daughter is a year 6 in Mrs. Thom's class," said mom Louise Harry in the comments. "We have spent a happy day ticking lots of those boxes."
Others also started sharing similar advice and notes that they have received from their teachers. One note stated, "Being a rounded, lifelong learner is what truly counts, not the score you got during a week of tests," per Telegraph.
Such letters come at a time when the demands of testing among children has received some criticisms as it only brings added pressure. Daily Mail reports that the SATs and similar academic measures have given stress to students that some parents actually ask their children to skip taking this. The SATs taken during May among Year 6 students cover English, Science and Math. It aims to assess if the students are fit for higher learning once they leave primary school, per SATS Guide.
