MAP . . . it's all you hear about!

So I thought I had plenty of time to practice MAP after spring break and suddenly MAP is here. This week is review for me and next week they are starting with Comm. Arts so I can still review in math and then its on for me in 2 weeks from now. I feel unprepared while hoping they will magically do well. Next year I will be much better at pacing and planning---no hoping---I WILL! Right now MAP is all we hear about since 6th and 8th grade started this week (each grade picked their own schedule and testing weeks). It is constantly reminding students to get enough sleep, eat breakfast, bring a pencil, an extra book to read and a calculator if they have one . . . oh and be quiet in the halls and remember teachers: there are no bells:) What fun: my first experience as a real teacher proctoring the MAP tests in a school where there are NO DOORS so keep the kids SILENT for 90 minutes at a time. Other than MAP I am wishing I had more technology available and thinking about what I can do next year to improve with this. I am hoping to write an eMINTS grant or another grant to get at least SOME--or ANY technology that I can use.