Re: Here come end of course tests. This will be fun.

Posted by Beth Meyers on 12/22/06

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Really?! I wonder if it is same group who developed the
comprehensive curriculum mess. My research into the CC
group revealed a great deal! The state department lists 15
teachers who "were instrumental in the development of the
courses for the English language arts curriculum"
(http://www.doe.state.la.us/lde/uploads/7002.doc). The
breakdown of this committee shows that 53% of those on the
committee represent 3 districts (out of ~66) in the state.
I pulled several of the resources this committee cites as
evidence for the development of a comprehensive curriculum.
One citation is from Becky Burns. When reviewing her work,
she states that the development of a comprehensive
curriculum should be done over time and not implemented
haphazardly (Rebecca Burns' work is online).

I wonder if we will throw out the LEAP or will we simply add
more tests onto the backs of already stressed students!
When the state department develops anything, do they look
into the eyes of a child? Do they ask themselves what the
ultimate outcome is for the policy they are developing? I
have three sons who have already graduated and one still in
elementary school. When I have to research a question for
my fourth grader because neither my husband nor I understood
the question, something is terribly wrong. Believe it or
not, the question dealt with a quilting term for geometric
shape placement--how does this test my fourth grader's
understanding of math?????

What is a valid test? What are valid test questions? My
colleagues and I were discussing this just recently. Susan
Ohanian, a national advocate for education, is collecting a
list of bad test questions (and she has an "interesting"
collection from other states). She does not have any listed
for Louisiana. I contacted Ms. Ohanian, and she said no one
has submitted any from our state. Let's correct that
problem. If we are going to browbeat our children with
tests, let us make sure they are not being penalized for bad
test development.

I am currently going back through my test prep booklets and
sample state practice tests as there were several
questionable items in those. As recently as a month ago, I
had a colleague come verify that the figure of speech in the
questions was indeed a simile. I checked it in context and
agreed, it was a simile. The test booklet gave the answer
as a metaphor. Technically, a simile is a type of metaphor;
but if one of the answers includes the term simile--then
that would be the BEST answer. My students would have
CORRECTLY marked simile, but they would have been wrong
according to the test makers (whoever they are). So what is
truly being tested?? So please, if you have any
questionable items, submit them to me (eb909@aol.com) and I
will send them on to Ms Ohanian's site. I would also
encourage you to visit her site as she has lots of resources
on the NCLB fight.

Become involved in fighting the reauthorization of NCLB. If
we don't fight for our kids, who will?

Posts on this thread, including this one

• Here come end of course tests. This will be fun., 12/15/06, by EOC Test.
• Re: Here come end of course tests. This will be fun., 12/22/06, by Beth Meyers.