Standardized Testing
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As a teacher in Louisiana, I've observed that there is a great emphasis put on standardized test scores. I know that we need to assess students' progress, but I wonder if too much emphasis is put on test results. For example, if our 4th and 8th graders do not meet the required scores, they must go through summer remediation and take the test again. If they fail again, they must repeat the 4th/8th grade.

With all this emphasis on testing, it seems that the curriculums are being written solely to meet all the criteria on the standardized tests. In order to cram everything in before "The Test", teachers are expected to push students through the material at a faster pace. For many children, this appears to be too much material at too fast a pace.

I'm just not sure that the way testing is currently being used is really benefitting the students.
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Jessie In our state, the standardized tests are just one indicator of student progress. The team also looks at such things as classroom tests, participation, daily assignments, projects, etc. Looking at the whole child, rather than just a snapshot in time, gives a better overall picture of what a child does and does not know.

On 6/03/11, Dana A. ...See More
Jun 3, 2011
Jo On 6/03/11, Jessie wrote: > In our state, the standardized tests are just one indicator of > student progress. The team also looks at such things as > classroom tests, participation, daily assignments, projects, > etc. Looking at the whole child, rather than just a snapshot in > time, gives a better overall picture of what a child do...See More
Jun 3, 2011
Dana A Many good points! It doesn't make sense for students to promote to the next grade if they haven't mastered the material. Yet that seems to happen in a lot of cases. Each grade level has its own matrix that is filled out for each student. For example, each third grade student had to make X number of points out of whatever the total available were on...See More
Jun 3, 2011
So true for some - Carrie I had to tell one of my ELL students today that she will need to retake all 3 end of grade tests, yes all 3. On one, she only missed the cut off score of passing by 1 point. She has spent a little over 12 hours testing in the last week and will spend another 12 hours re-testing again next week. There will be little, if any difference in her scores....See More
Jun 3, 2011
Amanda D. On 6/03/11, Chan wrote: > But aren't the tests supposed to measure what the students > were supposed to have mastered? If they don't master the > material (even without the testing to measure it) then why > should they be allowed to go on to the next grade?

No test is without bias. But the other concern is the amount of time th...See More
Jun 3, 2011


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