WHAT!?! We have an Exam?

This week is the week that is officially referred to as "EXAM WEEK".  For the vast majority of our grade nine students, this January's exam period will be the first time they write official 20-40%-of-your-overall-grade exams.

I have spoke on the subject of these exams multiple times, especially in my social studies class. As many readers will remember, social studies exams are often very difficult because the test covers a plethora of information that was absorbed over a long period of time.  For my social studies class, they need to be able to remember important facts, vocabulary, people, dates, etc. that they learned between September and January.  They need to recall information about the Renaissance, English Civil War, French Revolution, Napoleonic Era, Industrial Revolution, and early settlement of North American (from First Peoples to the War of 1812).  That is a giant chuck of history.

So, because of this, I have been constantly reminding them that they need to stay up to date with their interactive notebooks (basically a system of left-brain/right-brain organization that is al glued in one notebook making it IMPOSSIBLE to not know you are missing something, as the class works page by page together).  They had a test every chapter excluding the last section, as it is large chunk of the exam, which they were told.

When we came back from Christmas break, the plan was to spend about two weeks on the last chapter, and then a week on exam prep.  We discussed this plan when we came back so the class was up on the speed we needed to work at.  At the time, a couple of kids were shocked and horrified that there were exams.

"What!?! We have an exam," at least two kids exclaimed.

"Yes, kids, it was on your syllabus.  Remember?  All the information about the course and your grade?  First page in the interactive notebook..." I responded calmly.

About a week and a half ago, the exam schedule cam out.  I told my class the room the exam would be in (316); I told the class the time the exam would be at (9-11AM); I told them which teachers would be invigilating (lovely, lovely teachers); I told them the day of the week (Thursday); I told them the date (Jan. 28th).  Then, I wrote all this on the section of the board where I have always written their homework. All the valid and necessary info is in there right?  Maybe more than they really needed? That's what I thought.

My class did a two day prep activity in the library (it was AWESOME), a practice exam, a full block brainstorm on "big ideas" from the course with evidence proving all the times we covered that, and discussed the essay topics, spending two blocks creating outlines.  This was AFTER we I gave them a breakdown of the exam including the essay topics.  This was also AFTER they were given a schedule of all their exams in homeroom the week before.

Today: January 25th.  Grade 9s and 10s go to their classes for a bit more exam prep.  We have one and a half hours.  I have an awesome summarizing activity.

"Morning guys! Are you ready to get finished with social studies?  Just an hour and a half plus the exam and you are all done with this class.  Most of you..." I am interrupted.

"Wait! WHAT?!?" a student gasps looking shocked.

"What's wrong, hun?" I ask.

"We have an exam?"

After that I blacked out.  Not sure if I fainted, went into a rage comma, or died and went to the place only teachers go, but I came back from whatever happened.  All I know is that when I came to, no one had moved (although my hair was grey) and I simply let my jaw hang open before murmuring a "yes" with a nod.