Cross Talk – about assessment and standardized tests

Session 3

 

how to develop community vision

original posting by Dyer – no response

Date: Wed Sep 15, 2004 12:10 am

Author: Gentry, Pamela <[email protected]>

Subject: Re: When cision, not test scores, sets school priorities

thank you for your review of this article Kellie. I've read other articles in the last week or so by teachers saying that you don't have to teach specifically to the test in order to get results. Though almost all say they get stressed over pressure to teach directly. This author seems to put her finger on a key factor: community support of vision.....But I'm still wondering - what, specifically, is the vision of this school district, how did they communicate it, and how did they gather community support so effectively? are these questions answered in the article?       

 

teaching to the test

original posting by Arocha – participants: Arocha, Gentry & Barney

 

Date: Tue Sep 14, 2004 10:38 pm

Author: Arocha, Michelle <[email protected]>

Subject: Re: Teaching in the Time of Testing McCracken

Summary: The teachers in this article were upset about standardized testing. They felt that standardized tests are controlling the curriculum in our schools and that the teachable moment element in classrooms has been taken out. The authors also wonder how these kind of state mandates will affect future teachers? Will they knowingly go into a profession that is more and more regulated by people that don't even walk in a classroom? Lastly, the question is asked if the testing that is given in the K-12 curriculum will affect the curriculum in the college programs.Connection: Personally, when I was in college, standardized tests were talked about but were not stressed. We were told about the rules and regulations, but we were told that if we teaching the TEKS, the TAKS would take care of itself to a certain extent. All of the teachers in my block are negative, feel put upon, and overwhelmed. I haven't felt that way this year. I keep thinking that something is wrong with me, but I expected to teach the way I am teaching. We are self-contained so we have some flexibility with our time. I am fitting in Reading Groups, and tutoring sessions within my day along with the other curriculum areas. I don't think that the testing will affect college programs because the programs teach HOW to teach the material with hands-on experiences. I don't think that will change if they want to achieve a national standard.Discussion: What experiences have you had in your teaching career? Have you had teacher burn out or run into teacher burn out with a colleague? How do you feel about teaching the test vs. teaching TEKS?         

Date: Wed Sep 15, 2004 12:22 am

Author: Gentry, Pamela <[email protected]>

Subject: Re: Teaching in the Time of Testing McCracken

Michelle- I'd like to respond to comments in your summary that connect with the article that I read, "Stories from the Shadows: High Stakes Testing and Teacher Preparation." Interestingly, this article addresses some of the very questions that the authors of your article ask. No answers, really, because my article is kind of a case study/personal experience article. But in reading it, I saw how college professors are having to deal personally with the issue of accountability testing (ExCET)and its pressure on their preferred teaching style (learner centered & performance based. At least one of the professors expressed the same frustration that your authors feel with standardized testing. Others have found ways to do what they want (like you have) while continuing to teach the way they wish...they've just had to make adjustments because the reality is that the standardized tests won't go away any time soon. I guess the point is that creative teachers always find a way --- and we don't have to totally give in to the system. We each need to figure out a way to make the system work for us.   

Date: Wed Sep 15, 2004 8:49 pm

Author: Barney, Katherine <[email protected]>

Subject: Re: Teaching in the Time of Testing McCracken

I have heard from several people from the state level that say if you just teach the TEKS the test scores will be good and I basically agree with them. The trouble comes from administrators who dictate what/how to teach and from the pressure to be an exemplary school. I've worked at exemplary, recognized and acceptable campuses and I did not witness the best teaching strategies at the exemplary campus. I saw a lot more emphasis on the test. Personally I would not necessarily enroll my child in an exemplary campus because of this. Of course, I wouldn't make the conclusion that every exemplary campus drills for the test, but several do. Kat 

Date: Thu Sep 16, 2004 1:26 am

Author: Gentry, Pamela <[email protected]>

Subject: Re: Teaching in the Time of Testing McCracken

Interesting discovery. I remember hearing about a school district down in the Corpus Christi area that adopted a direct teaching approach when the TAKS first came out. Their scores soared. The news item I saw was saying what a great thing this was. I wondered, even then. There really is a lot of pressure on the administrators to get that "exemplary" rating. Wouldn't be interesting to examine teaching practices in exemplary schools across the state and see what they are doing ... and compare their populations and other contextual factors that might be affecting scores? Do you know of anyone who has done this?   

 

testing link

original posting by Barnett -

 

Date: Wed Sep 15, 2004 6:12 pm

Author: Barnett, Latonya <[email protected]>

Subject: Teaching in a world focused on testing

Teaching in a World Focused on Testing        Summary: What do I want to remember from this chapter that may be helpful to my present or future teaching or to the TExES exam?         In this article Aimee Buckner offers her top ten list for ways educators can continue to teach “despite the tug of war around testing”. “She believes that when teachers start making teaching decisions based on a test, they become powerless.” She states that in many school systems, there is a lot of pressure from school boards, state government, communities, and the press to raise test scores. however, this is her top ten list:        TOP TEN LIST FOR MAINTAINING EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING DESPITE AN ENVIRONMENT OF TESTINGWhat is the goal? Best practices count. Educate your community. Know your pedagogy. Be politically active. Manage your classroom. The most direct way to change anything in education is to stop in Mexico on your way to Canada. Know your test grammar. Crawl before you walk. Be accountable. I want to remember this list because these are all ways I can stay true to my teaching and what I believe in the future when I begin to teach.                 Extension: How can I extend the virtual classroom conversation on this reading by responding to my colleagues' posts? Her is a website with information on test taking for school children. http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/TestTaking/index.html

Date: Thu Sep 16, 2004 1:40 am

Author: Gentry, Pamela <[email protected]>

Subject: Re: Teaching in a world focused on testing

 

         

thank you for this link, Latonya. It is a good article to share with parents.