EFFFF STATE TESTS RIGHT IN THE ASS

[sailorgray]

Apr 30, 2013 20:35:35 GMT -5 Monica Geller said:

Apr 30, 2013 20:30:44 GMT -5 @tnteacher said:

It varies from district to district, but in my school, we take three school-wide standardized tests that are supposed to be a predictor for TCAP, the state-wide standardized test. Then we take two CRA tests, which are short assessments of the new Common Core math standards. Then there's a writing assessment. We also STAR test once a month to monitor their grade level in reading. I'm trying to think what else, but that's all I can think of at the moment.

Don't forget the Terra Novas!

We have about the same amount and don't forget weekly and unit tests in class! And placement tests for reading and math interventions as well as for identification of gifted students.

Oh my word...that's crazy.  It's really sad.  What have they stopped doing to make time for all of this testing?

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2013 20:39:49 GMT -5 sailorgray said:

Apr 30, 2013 20:35:35 GMT -5 Monica Geller said:

Don't forget the Terra Novas!

We have about the same amount and don't forget weekly and unit tests in class! And placement tests for reading and math interventions as well as for identification of gifted students.

Oh my word...that's crazy.  It's really sad.  What have they stopped doing to make time for all of this testing?

In a word, teaching.  We've had to stop teaching to make room for testing.

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2013 20:35:35 GMT -5 Monica Geller said:

Apr 30, 2013 20:30:44 GMT -5 @tnteacher said:

It varies from district to district, but in my school, we take three school-wide standardized tests that are supposed to be a predictor for TCAP, the state-wide standardized test. Then we take two CRA tests, which are short assessments of the new Common Core math standards. Then there's a writing assessment. We also STAR test once a month to monitor their grade level in reading. I'm trying to think what else, but that's all I can think of at the moment.

Don't forget the Terra Novas!

We have about the same amount and don't forget weekly and unit tests in class! And placement tests for reading and math interventions as well as for identification of gifted students.

and on and on we could go

[sailorgray]

Apr 30, 2013 20:44:16 GMT -5 klekz37 said:

Apr 30, 2013 20:39:49 GMT -5 sailorgray said:

Oh my word...that's crazy.  It's really sad.  What have they stopped doing to make time for all of this testing?

In a word, teaching.  We've had to stop teaching to make room for testing.

Is it the same at private schools?

[cc]

My daughter had the Fcat last week and the reading portion was on the computer. She said she hates taking it that way.

[kaybee85]

This was a really good opinion piece written by a principal in my area. www.gainesville.com/article/20130428/OPINION03/130429649/-1/news?Title=Michael-Gamble-Invest-in-public-schools

ETA: This isn't focused heavily on testing, but it talks about the fact that politicians are trying to give money to charters/private schools and misusing/badly comparing success in the two different places (public vs private/charter)

[sake]

We take ISTEP for grades 3-10, 2 sessions a year, the first 1/2 in March, and the 2nd half in the beginning of May. 3rd graders also have to take IREAD, and pass, in order to move to 4th grade.
k-2 had to take DIBELS 3 times a year.
Also, at my school we do ACUITY testing 3 times a year.

We also do weekly classroom assessments. And assessments to move in and out of Title One.

I worked my first 2 years of teaching in a private school, as a 1st grade assistant. They didn't take as many tests, but they still did ISTEP and IREAD. those are state mandated tests.

And yeah, teaching, and basically anything fun are the things we gave up in order to make time for this testing. No class celebrations, no recess above 3rd grade, limited time in art, music, and gym. Its going to hell in a hand basket. All in the name of "education"

[sailorgray]

May 1, 2013 7:30:02 GMT -5 sake said:

We take ISTEP for grades 3-10, 2 sessions a year, the first 1/2 in March, and the 2nd half in the beginning of May. 3rd graders also have to take IREAD, and pass, in order to move to 4th grade.
k-2 had to take DIBELS 3 times a year.
Also, at my school we do ACUITY testing 3 times a year.

We also do weekly classroom assessments. And assessments to move in and out of Title One.

I worked my first 2 years of teaching in a private school, as a 1st grade assistant. They didn't take as many tests, but they still did ISTEP and IREAD. those are state mandated tests.

And yeah, teaching, and basically anything fun are the things we gave up in order to make time for this testing. No class celebrations, no recess above 3rd grade, limited time in art, music, and gym. Its going to hell in a hand basket. All in the name of "education"

Thanks, Sake. This all makes me so sad. No recess? Art? Gym?  I have been really trying to get my H to consider parochial schooling for our kids. He thinks I am being silly, but all of this testing is upsetting. My teacher friends tell me that it isn't only the testing, but that they have to prepare their students for the testing and that takes away from true teaching/learning.   

[curtains]

Apr 30, 2013 20:44:16 GMT -5 klekz37 said:

Apr 30, 2013 20:39:49 GMT -5 sailorgray said:

Oh my word...that's crazy.  It's really sad.  What have they stopped doing to make time for all of this testing?

In a word, teaching.  We've had to stop teaching to make room for testing.

Wow...  As a parent this is what I was afraid of.  What a fucked up system...  I feel for you teachers.  )=

[sake]

I agree with that. We are forced to teach to the test a lot. It isn't the way it was in 2004 when I started college to become a teacher. If it was like this then, I would have picked something different.
I don't think that children today are getting the kind of education that will benefit them in the real world. I think that in a few ways, education is better, b/c it's more standards based, so all children should be accountable for mastering the standards of their grade level before being promoted to the next grade, but I think the majority of the way things are now is dumb and all the testing is BS.

[Jalapeñomel]

There has to be some sort of balance, IMO. Not necessarily with ISTEP, but something to assess how well the schools and children are doing.

We have no testing here, and so many children fall through the cracks, especially in math and grammar. I have students in 6th grade who do not know their basic multiplication tables or what an equivalent fraction is. But yet we are almost forced to let them pass to the next grade.

[Knight]

This is why my mom got out of teaching. She got into social work and I wondered how in the hell it could be easier to deal with child abusers and molesters. She said it was because she actually had a little power to make a difference in her new job.

Abbey, I'm moving north of Indy in the near future. You can pm me if you want.

[joenali]

May 1, 2013 7:48:49 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

There has to be some sort of balance, IMO. Not necessarily with ISTEP, but something to assess how well the schools and children are doing.

We have no testing here, and so many children fall through the cracks, especially in math and grammar. I have students in 6th grade who do not know their basic multiplication tables or what an equivalent fraction is. But yet we are almost forced to let them pass to the next grade.

I don't think any teacher would say we don't need some sort of testing for accountability etc. It's the using of a test to determine whether or not a teacher is "doing their job" or not. That is one big problem with testing. Testing should not take so much time away from teaching and learning. Testing is also not going to stop kids from falling through the cracks. Teachers know how their kids are doing. A test is ONE data point. What about the daily assessments/observations a teacher uses to help kids? So does that not count anymore?

[mrsjuleshs]

DD just finished up state testing last week. She said the social studies one was super hard and 1/2 of the questions were over things they haven't even learned yet. THAT should go over really well. I really hate standardized testing.