Standardized Testing

Waaaaay back in the day, when I was in school, we were tested too. As I recall, it took a couple of days and even then it didn't take the whole day. It was that way through high school. But that was before everyone decided that testing would somehow cure all ills in public school.

Last year, testing lasted one week. Every day, all day. This year, it's a week and a half. Seriously. Check out this schedule, beginning Wed., Feb. 28th:

Wed. AM - Reading I
                 1A Class
         PM - Science I
Thurs. AM - Reading II
                 2A Class
         PM - Science II
Fri.   Normal classes (I think - not sure of this one)
Mon. AM - Reading III
                3A Class
         Dismiss at 1:30
Tues. AM - Math I
         4A Class
         Dismiss at 1:30
Wed. AM - Math III
         1B Class
         PM Science III
Thurs. AM - Math III
          3B Class
          PM - Writing
Fri. AM - Writing II
          4B Class
          PM - Basketball game to celebrate the end of testing.

Oh yeah - lunch is in there somewhere too. Honestly - it's nuts. Look at that week and a half of instruction time everyone is losing! No-one is allowed to assign homework during testing because the kids are supposed to focus on relaxing at home & getting a good night's sleep for the next day's grilling. So kids are showing up to their one class a day to basically do...nothing.

The teachers are less than thrilled, let me tell you.

I've been put into a job during testing week and I'm not sure how that's going to work. Substitutes are not allowed to administer standardized tests, although those with teaching licenses may be able to. Regardless, that leaves me out! So I figure they can do several things. Switch me out with a sub who has a teaching license, have another teacher cover my teacher's testing times and have me come in for just one period per day (and that first Friday, possibly), or cancel subs altogether and have teachers with prep periods for those class times cover her. There's a 4th possibility - make me come in anyway & file in the office for hours. That one I'd nix right at the start. My back can't take it and damn it - filing ain't my job!

I must admit - it would be extremely cool to have the next week and a half off. I wouldn't be paid, but I'd love the vacation!

The kids are really stressed about this whole thing. Colin gets test anxiety at the drop of a hat so we'll be going through hell with him for those days. Dylan just thinks the whole thing is stupid. He's dreading the writing portion because his hand tires easily (like mine) and if they can't read his writing, he gets a bad score. I definitely think they should make allowances & let those kids who need to type their answers.

When it's all said & done, you know what standardized tests actually test?

How well you can take a test. Period.

And you know what, President Bush? There are still plenty of children being left behind, we're just documenting it better these days.

That's enough of my education rant - I won't get into gory details. ::wink:: Next time, I want to talk about an impulse purchase of mine:

Today I'm off to the same classes from hell I had on Friday. Actually, 2nd & 3rd periods weren't too bad but 4th period definitely lived up to it's "uncontrollable" reputation. It was challenging because I had to take all classes to the library to do research. If a class is rowdy in the classroom, just wait until you take 'em into the hallways & library! Sheesh. I was so tense by the time I got home I literally ached all over.

At least today I'm giving them a test! LOL If they talk during that I get to put a zero on their paper!
Ah - sweet revenge. hehehehe

Have a great Monday!

                  

Comments

[Lisa In Oregon]

My kids are not big on testing either..it's not just a good representaton of what they can do...just like me. I could be top of my class in college...until the tests. Knock me down to 2nd or 3rd every time.

Hey, I'm sending vibes to the Universe you get the testing time off. :) Lisa
PS, I finally got a couple of pics on my blog... :)

[Margaret]

My daughter didn't test well either. *sigh* I agree, those things are a waste of valuable classroom time.

I bought a subscription to Crochet Today because I really like the magazine. So far so good.
I didn't renew my subscription to Crochet! not only because it was too "trendy" but I noticed that some of the patterns were repeats of patterns I have in other magazines! I thought the same company publishes other magazines and/or owns the rights to some other magazines which are no longer being published or in print.

Have a great day everyone!

[Carrie K]

Bianca's Jacket is going to look cute on you.

All that testing and we rank 26th in the world? What happened? We used to be one of the leading countries.

I did hear (on NPR) that (one guest opinion) it used to be the only field for women to work easily in (teaching)(or nursing) and that now that the workforce has opened up more, the really driven professional women are out there getting decently compensated and not drilling knowlege into students head. NOTE: He did say that that was no disrespect to current teachers who are probably just as driven today, it's just that there is more of a choice.

[Jenn]

Ugh. I hear ya. Too bad el presidente got his great ideas from his home state - we test like nobody's business. Starting in 3rd grade - and it's a monster of a test (two actually - reading and math). Ours is a bit more spread out - we did one last week, one's right after spring break and then we have a week of testing in April - but only High Schoolers have a test everyday - the rest are make up days for us young'uns.
I wish we could can it all. We even give a standardized test to the Kindergarteners now.

[Bron]

Carrie - Testing is, after all, only testing. It doesn't teach the children anything. Sigh. I don't know what the problem is, but I know the solution isn't more tests telling us there's a problem!

If my school doesn't score higher than it did the last two years, it's going on the "endangered" list in the district. Not good at all...

Jenn - Colin was forced to take a standardized test in 2nd grade and he had a severe anxiety attack. Hyperventilating, the works. I had to come take him home! Ever since then, he hasn't been able to take a test well - even classroom tests. I'm laying the blame for that at the school's door!