I teach US History to 11th graders, on the 4x4 block. I have taught the course and the state test is over for us. I need suggestions for the rest of the term. Help!
our principal told us that there was a time before lesson plans....1982 i guess.....where the teacher taught in whatever direction the "spirit" moved her to teach.....
of course that isn't allowed now with state tests and lesson plans.......
until now......teach whatever the spirit "moves" you to teach......
ha.......good luck fatcoach
On 5/06/08, Katy Lynn wrote: > I teach US History to 11th graders, on the 4x4 block. I > have taught the course and the state test is over for us. > I need suggestions for the rest of the term. Help!
Has anyone been told how to score the practice MCT2 tests to determine whether you believe your students are at advanced, proficient, basic, or minimal? What percentages?
Well, first, I don't think the practice tests are very good at all. There were several questions on our 4th grade test that were questionable...especially dealing with persuasive techniques. ??
Anyway, they haven't even figured out the cut scores for the real MCT2. I read on the MDE site that there will be a group that will review the data to determine the cut scores for advanced, proficient, etc. So I don't think they can tell us anything about the practice, for sure.
My kids did horrible as well and I'm fairly certain that most of them are going to bomb the real thing. It's depressing because I have worked HARD to get them to where they are but I just feel like my wheels are spinning.
On 5/08/08, ??? wrote: > I don't see how there could be a really valid way to come up > with a score. My kids did HORRIBLE. I was not really > surprised because we had been told don't use any materials > that have MCT on them. That pretty much was all I had. > > On 5/08/08, ready to be finished wrote: >> Has anyone been told how to score the practice MCT2 tests >> to determine whether you believe your students are at >> advanced, proficient, basic, or minimal? What percentages?
My kids did HORRIBLE as well. I am a first year teacher in 7th grade Language Arts. I worked my tail off to get these kids where they are, and when I looked at their practice tests, it looked as if I had not done anything with them!!!! Total mess!!
On 5/09/08, Victoria wrote: > > Well, first, I don't think the practice tests are very good at > all. There were several questions on our 4th grade test that > were questionable...especially dealing with persuasive > techniques. ?? > > Anyway, they haven't even figured out the cut scores for the > real MCT2. I read on the MDE site that there will be a group > that will review the data to determine the cut scores for > advanced, proficient, etc. So I don't think they can tell us > anything about the practice, for sure. > > My kids did horrible as well and I'm fairly certain that most > of them are going to bomb the real thing. It's depressing > because I have worked HARD to get them to where they are but I > just feel like my wheels are spinning. > > On 5/08/08, ??? wrote: >> I don't see how there could be a really valid way to come up >> with a score. My kids did HORRIBLE. I was not really >> surprised because we had been told don't use any materials >> that have MCT on them. That pretty much was all I had. >> >> On 5/08/08, ready to be finished wrote: >>> Has anyone been told how to score the practice MCT2 tests >>> to determine whether you believe your students are at >>> advanced, proficient, basic, or minimal? What percentages?
Thanks for responding! What in field does your brother-in-law have a BS degree? Math or something else?
> My brother-in-law is going through the TMI program right now. > So far, he seems very happy with it. When he has completed it, > he will be able to teach 7-12 math.
I completed alternate route certification eight years ago, and I believe it is a wonderful program. As a military wife, I have certified in six states, and I have never had a problem with the certification process or with securing a job. I have found that holding degree in my content area has made me one of the stronger teachers in my current department; interviewers have ALWAYS looked on my content centered degree in a very favorable way. Just expect that all of the classroom management stuff will be trial by fire. Then again, it is the same for all of those who majored in education--classroom management can only be learned when you are the one in front of the classroom. Good luck on pursuing this route. I really think it is the best way to go!
On 5/14/08, Jan wrote: > Thanks for responding! > What in field does your brother-in-law have a BS degree? > Math or something else? > >> My brother-in-law is going through the TMI program right now. >> So far, he seems very happy with it. When he has completed it, >> he will be able to teach 7-12 math.
My kids were just wiped out by the math portion of the test. I think several just gave up and marked stuff. Is it really necessary to have so many questions?
But if you are doing a small group accomadation, then someone is reading the test. I did some small group read-alouds, and yes, I found a mistake on the 4th grade language portion of the test. Try as you might to not pay attention, some mistakes are glaringly obvious. On 5/18/08, gem wrote: > I thought noone is allowed to read any of the questions and that > no writing is allowed by TA's/proctors and others. Doesnt sound > right to me. > > On 5/17/08, ?? wrote: >> In the middle of the test our test person slid a paper under >> the door that there was a mistake on a certain answer. How >> can they hold us accountable if the writers of the test can't >> get the test right? >> On 5/17/08, my 2 cents wrote: >>> I know they have to have a lot of field test questions - but >>> of the 20 or so versions of the test we gave, three had >> errors >>> (doesn't make me very confident in the test company, >>> especially after the errors on the practice test). >>> >>> We also had a tornado warning during the middle of the test >> so >>> our students were out in the middle of the hall for an hour. >>> They finally finished the test a little after 1:00. >>> >>> By that time our students were STARVING - it's not fair to >>> kids to make them test that long without a break for >> food/water.
The mistake was on the letter choices. Test security was not breached.
On 5/18/08, girl in gulfport wrote: > But if you are doing a small group accomadation, then someone is > reading the test. I did some small group read-alouds, and yes, I > found a mistake on the 4th grade language portion of the test. Try > as you might to not pay attention, some mistakes are glaringly > obvious. > On 5/18/08, gem wrote: >> I thought noone is allowed to read any of the questions and that >> no writing is allowed by TA's/proctors and others. Doesnt sound >> right to me. >> >> On 5/17/08, ?? wrote: >>> In the middle of the test our test person slid a paper under >>> the door that there was a mistake on a certain answer. How >>> can they hold us accountable if the writers of the test can't >>> get the test right? >>> On 5/17/08, my 2 cents wrote: >>>> I know they have to have a lot of field test questions - but >>>> of the 20 or so versions of the test we gave, three had >>> errors >>>> (doesn't make me very confident in the test company, >>>> especially after the errors on the practice test). >>>> >>>> We also had a tornado warning during the middle of the test >>> so >>>> our students were out in the middle of the hall for an hour. >>>> They finally finished the test a little after 1:00. >>>> >>>> By that time our students were STARVING - it's not fair to >>>> kids to make them test that long without a break for >>> food/water.
At our elementary school we use a progress monitoring system and we test them 4 times a year so we can monitor their progress. This year we used the new Coach, Buckledown MCT2, and the last one we gave was the state practice test. After giving the real MCT2 test this week our teachers felt that these items were good practice for the kids and that our kids were better prepared if they had listened and paid attention in class.
I am looking for sample test items in Language Arts. My students really need help and I just don't have a variety of samples questions. Could anyone help me with a few websites so that I can search for these items.
On 9/02/08, carolyn wrote: > On 5/16/08, Rose wrote: >> At our elementary school we use a progress monitoring system >> and we test them 4 times a year so we can monitor their >> progress. This year we used the new Coach, Buckledown MCT2, >> and the last one we gave was the state practice test. After >> giving the real MCT2 test this week our teachers felt that >> these items were good practice for the kids and that our >> kids were better prepared if they had listened and paid >> attention in class. > > > I am looking for sample test items in Language Arts. My > students really need help and I just don't have a variety of > samples questions. Could anyone help me with a few websites > so that I can search for these items. > > Thanks, > Carolyn
VCI know Rankin County hires alt ed teachers. But that does not mean it is an easy county to get hired at.
On 5/23/08, Jan wrote: > Are there any MS school districts that will not employ > alternative certification graduates? > > Do you know of any districts that employ a large number of > alt. cert. graduates?
I have a Masters in Ed (Instructional Technology) and am currently teaching at a college level. I am interested in teaching high school but can not decide which route would be best for me to take. Is there anyone here that went this way? If so.. help?
Hi Sky, I do not have any suggestions, because I asked the same question myself. I am presently in graduate (hopefully graduating in December) and would like to teacher on the college level.
I asked the question, which is best route for me to take if I decide later that I want to teach on the high school level. I really did not get any responses, but one lady, named,Suzy, was very helpful in explaining that she taught on both levels and found the teaching K-12 was more rewarding.
Just wanted to let you know that I understand you situation.
On 5/28/08, Sky wrote: > I have a Masters in Ed (Instructional Technology) and am > currently teaching at a college level. I am interested in > teaching high school but can not decide which route would > be best for me to take. Is there anyone here that went this > way? If so.. help?
What do teachers here in Mississippi do during summer vacation? I'd like to get some kind of part-time job, but here where I live, the choice is limited: pick peaches, pick blueberries, work at a fast-food place or WalMart, or get a job as a waitress. Isn't there anything a bit more in keeping with a teacher's respect level for us to do to earn some extra money?
On 6/06/08, skylark2868 wrote: > What do teachers here in Mississippi do during summer > vacation? I'd like to get some kind of part-time job, but > here where I live, the choice is limited: pick peaches, > pick blueberries, work at a fast-food place or WalMart, or > get a job as a waitress. Isn't there anything a bit more > in keeping with a teacher's respect level for us to do to > earn some extra money?
Most teachers who work during the summer around here either teach summer school, tutor, work in a summer camp, etc.
As part of a graduate research project, I need to gather data from current teachers. I’m researching the use of technology in the classroom and what factors affect it. If you could just take a few minutes to complete my survey, I’d appreciate it. The survey is online and has 15 questions.
On 6/07/08, JP wrote: > As part of a graduate research project, I need to gather > data from current teachers. I’m researching the use of > technology in the classroom and what factors affect it. If > you could just take a few minutes to complete my survey, I’d > appreciate it. The survey is online and has 15 questions. > > Thank you so much. I appreciate it!
our principal told us that there was a time before lesson
plans....1982 i guess.....where the teacher taught in
whatever direction the "spirit" moved her to teach.....
of course that isn't allowed now with state tests and lesson
plans.......
until now......teach whatever the spirit "moves" you ...See More