There's no such thing as a "standard" child
That's the argument one of my colleagues gives against standardized testing. Am I in the minority? I believe in some kind of accountability for the job I am or am not doing with my children. Everybody has been running around for the past two weeks so stressed, so grouchy, complaining and pontificating. There is a directive from the district that says exactly what test we are supposed to give on what day. My children are denied recess at their regularly scheduled time because the upper grades don't want to hear the noise of children before 11:00. Any child who is more than 30 seconds late at the start of the day is kept in the cafeteria for 2 hours until the morning testing is done.
Well, that's what's going on in their neck of the woods. Here's what's happening in MY room. You know, my kiddles have known all year that they are tested for 3 weeks in May, the difference in stress levels is that I tell them it is an assessment of MY success in teaching them.As long as they do their best, so what? If they get an answer wrong, it's not the end of the world, I just need to look at what I needed to do to help them. We take one test every morning, they get to read their favorite books until everyone is done, then we dance to Motown and go on with our lives.
I think my kid's scores will be good enough, if not, oh well. The test is designed for a percentage of failure, come on, if everyone passed, what would THAT say? You need the bell curve, an equal percentage of children excelling and failing, with a certain percentage of adequacy that shows room for improvement.
I would be more concerned if I was at a school that was already scoring in the 800s, where do they go from there?
No Child Left Behind doesn't scare me, I am ashamed of my teachers' union, ashamed of those that want to throw it out, that say it is an unrealistic goal. So WHAT!!!! Isn't that our job, to make sure every child gets an equal opportunity, and that we teach to individual needs.
I am tired of the accountability merry go round of blaming society, the parents, government, the teachers, the students, video games, MTV.
Whatever!!!
I just want to keep improving, I have damaged this group of kiddles less than the group the year before, and next year, I hope to damage them even less.
I remember my third-grade teacher, her name was Mrs. Limberger (yes, like the cheese). She had pinkish-purplish-grey hair, and glasses that had rhinestones on the points. It was the year I got glasses too, and I got blue ones that reminded me of hers. I don't remember anything in particular I learned that year, I just remember it wasn't so bad being in her class.
I hope my kids are able to have a good memory of third grade
Well, that's what's going on in their neck of the woods. Here's what's happening in MY room. You know, my kiddles have known all year that they are tested for 3 weeks in May, the difference in stress levels is that I tell them it is an assessment of MY success in teaching them.As long as they do their best, so what? If they get an answer wrong, it's not the end of the world, I just need to look at what I needed to do to help them. We take one test every morning, they get to read their favorite books until everyone is done, then we dance to Motown and go on with our lives.
I think my kid's scores will be good enough, if not, oh well. The test is designed for a percentage of failure, come on, if everyone passed, what would THAT say? You need the bell curve, an equal percentage of children excelling and failing, with a certain percentage of adequacy that shows room for improvement.
I would be more concerned if I was at a school that was already scoring in the 800s, where do they go from there?
No Child Left Behind doesn't scare me, I am ashamed of my teachers' union, ashamed of those that want to throw it out, that say it is an unrealistic goal. So WHAT!!!! Isn't that our job, to make sure every child gets an equal opportunity, and that we teach to individual needs.
I am tired of the accountability merry go round of blaming society, the parents, government, the teachers, the students, video games, MTV.
Whatever!!!
I just want to keep improving, I have damaged this group of kiddles less than the group the year before, and next year, I hope to damage them even less.
I remember my third-grade teacher, her name was Mrs. Limberger (yes, like the cheese). She had pinkish-purplish-grey hair, and glasses that had rhinestones on the points. It was the year I got glasses too, and I got blue ones that reminded me of hers. I don't remember anything in particular I learned that year, I just remember it wasn't so bad being in her class.
I hope my kids are able to have a good memory of third grade