I’m starting to think our sole purpose as educators is to confuse the rest of the world.
We spend way too much time speaking in initials.
No one… and I mean no one… has any idea what we are talking about.
Below I’ve listed 25 educational acronyms.
If you know more than 15, you definitely work in education.
If you know more than 20, you are school administrator material.
If you can translate all 25 (and sadly, I can), you are a gigantic dork who needs a hobby.
Answers are at the bottom.
Don’t cheat. I’m watching you (as is Buddy the Dog’s crazy Uncle Carl… he’s the handsome devil above).
1. AASA
2. ACT
3. CPS
4. IDEA
5. OPMA
6. GPA
7. NEA
8. ASBO
9. TRS
10. FICA
11. AFT
12. IEP
13. NAESP
14. SAT
15. NSBA
16. AESD
17. NCLB
18. ASCD
19. GED
20. ASFSA
21. RTI
22. NREA
23. NASSP
24. EEOC
25. SAT
Bonus: CYA
Answers: 1. American Association of School Administrators 2. American College Test 3. Child Protective Services 4. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 5. Open Public Meetings Act 6. Grade Point Average 7. National Education Association 8. Association of School Business Officials 9. Teachers’ Retirement System 10. Federal Insurance Contributions Act 11. American Federation of Teachers 12. Individualized Educational Program 13. National Association of Elementary School Principals 14. Scholastic Assessment Test 15. National School Boards Association 16. Association of Educational Service Districts 17. No Child Left Behind 18. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development 19. General Education Development Tests (or Certificates) 20. American School Food Service Association 21. Response to Intervention 22. National Rural Education Association 23. National Association of Secondary School Principals 24. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 25. Scholastic Aptitude Test Bonus: Cover Your A**
Phil Gaton"
Alicia Kessler
on Jun 3rd, 2010
@ 10:50 am:
You need the bonus to take care of the other 25 right?
AllanahK
on Jun 3rd, 2010
@ 1:14 pm:
We had an afternoon last week just to go through our NZ list- and it’s growing.
My favourite at the moment tl:dr
http://linklearning.wikispaces.com/Vocabulary
Too Long: Didn’t Read
Which proves that I have the attention span of a gnat.
Michael Smith Reply:
June 5th, 2010 at 6:28 am
@AllanahK, If you have the attention span of a gnat… I’m willing to bet that mine is shorter.
Unklar
on Jun 3rd, 2010
@ 1:58 pm:
With the bonus, I got 20 without having to think too hard. That is scary.
One you forgot: ROTFLMAO
Melanie
on Jun 3rd, 2010
@ 6:46 pm:
And don’t forget WTF? which is my response to administrators who want me to box up the school’s stuff, but don’t provide me with boxes in which to put said stuff.
Michael Smith Reply:
June 5th, 2010 at 6:27 am
@Melanie, I’m not familiar with WTF.
Adminitrators don’t use this type of language.
Jackie Ballarini
on Jun 3rd, 2010
@ 7:12 pm:
When I read “CPS” I immediately thought of “Chicago Public Schools.” DCFS I would have gotten.
Jim
on Jun 4th, 2010
@ 8:37 am:
I only got 16, plus the bonus (but you duplicated National School Boards Association). Maybe I need to turn in my admin credential?
Olwyn Hughes
on Jun 4th, 2010
@ 7:36 pm:
I only got 5 but seeing as how I am Canadian I figure that 5 is decent!
Michael Smith Reply:
June 5th, 2010 at 6:26 am
@Olwyn Hughes, Not bad for a hockey fan.
Karen
on Jun 5th, 2010
@ 6:36 pm:
I have some more to add to the list
TPA
FQL
PLC
VRS
AEA
VEA
SOL
PALS
VSBA
NAESP
SOL (not to be confused with SOL #1)
AYP
I’ll tell you the answers if you want but you probably don’t!
Karen
on Jun 5th, 2010
@ 7:12 pm:
Oh yeah, I forgot…
GRT
SPED
CTIP
ITRT
SIS
SASI
SIP
SBIT
PMOC
DOE
ACLP
ERC
And I am sure there are more but I am tired of thinking of them.
Karen
on Jun 5th, 2010
@ 7:21 pm:
ESOL
ELL
PTO
PATSO
I am really done now.
Erich D.
on Jun 26th, 2010
@ 6:40 pm:
You are very talented. And sarcastic.