High Stakes Tests
Here in MA, like most states in the US, students now have to take high stakes standardized tests. It started out in the high school level, then moved down to middle school, and finally to the elementary level.
My school has not done so well on this test for a lot of reasons, one of which is we haven't been teaching to the test. But this year the pressure was on from administrators and parents for our school to improve its scores.
This being my first year teaching 3rd grade, and my second year with the same class, I feel an incredible amount of pressure for my students to perform well. So I have been preparing them all year for this test. Have I been teaching to the test? Unfortunately, yes. There was no way around it. So we have spent, on average, 45 minutes a day doing test prep.
What else could we have been doing in those 45 minutes? Science, for one. I have almost completely neglected science this year, because it's just too hard to fit in. What else? Reading more books for pleasure in reading groups. No time this year.
Instead, I have 8 and 9 year olds feeling more stressed out over this test than I was taking the SATs. That's what upsets me the most about this test. These kids are way too young to be feeling stressed out at school.
Today they took a practice test. And it was hard. And they aced it! So I guess there is something to teaching to the test. My students are ready to kick butt on this stupid test next week. They will do well, and I will be proud of them. But when I think of all the things we could have been doing this year, and when I think about how anxious they all are, I just have to wonder why we are making these little kids take such a big test?
-b
My school has not done so well on this test for a lot of reasons, one of which is we haven't been teaching to the test. But this year the pressure was on from administrators and parents for our school to improve its scores.
This being my first year teaching 3rd grade, and my second year with the same class, I feel an incredible amount of pressure for my students to perform well. So I have been preparing them all year for this test. Have I been teaching to the test? Unfortunately, yes. There was no way around it. So we have spent, on average, 45 minutes a day doing test prep.
What else could we have been doing in those 45 minutes? Science, for one. I have almost completely neglected science this year, because it's just too hard to fit in. What else? Reading more books for pleasure in reading groups. No time this year.
Instead, I have 8 and 9 year olds feeling more stressed out over this test than I was taking the SATs. That's what upsets me the most about this test. These kids are way too young to be feeling stressed out at school.
Today they took a practice test. And it was hard. And they aced it! So I guess there is something to teaching to the test. My students are ready to kick butt on this stupid test next week. They will do well, and I will be proud of them. But when I think of all the things we could have been doing this year, and when I think about how anxious they all are, I just have to wonder why we are making these little kids take such a big test?
-b
12 comments:
Good luck to you & your class. I think society expects kids to grow up so fast these days. There's no reason 3rd graders should have any stress in there life preparing for an exam.But even though it isn't under your control, it sounds like your teaching them exactly what they need. Keep up the good work!
I couldn't agree more. A week's worth of bubbling in answers and it stays with them until they exit the public school system. It's craziness. It didn't used to be 'teach to the test,' but it certainly is today.
I can't get started about my opinions of these "tests". I'll take up all space you have on blogspot. So I'll just stop to say that I don't think you "taught to the test" as much as you're feeling. I think in that practice time you gave the kids many smart strategies to think about text general, not just on the test.
Can't wait to "teach to the test" myself next year! :o)
How old is 3rd Grade?
What I'd like to know is what retard came up with the idea to test Primary School kids? They're just getting to grips with reading, maths, spelling, and now they have to study for a test that in the grand scheme of things doesn't really mean anything?
That's just plain wrong. Kids shouldn't have to worry about tests, they should be playing with their friends and blowing stuff up and trying to avoid girls because they have cooties and sticking stuff on railways tracks so that trains can squish them and eating mud and stuff. Pretty much the same things I do now, except the avoiding girls part because I've come to realise that girl cooties aren't as bad as we thought they were, in fact they're kind of nice.
I hate those tests. It's ridiculous.
Loweded wookie, you cracked me up!!!
I agree with Mel B, you haven't been "teaching to the test" as much as you think you have... 45 minutes a day is a stretch, and you expand whatever you teach to other academic areas so that it isn't just about taking one test.
speaking of eating mud, I once got a bad cut on my hand, and decided to try a mudpack on it like I saw Native Americans do. It turned out that I didn't have the skills to do it.
Taking tests at 8 or 9 years old definitely must be stressful. I know taking exams in University is.
I really feel it for them
I strongly dislike these type of tests. In Florida the kids have the FCAT and it starts in the 3rd grade. They could be doing excellent in all subjects but if they fail this one test they are retained . Its insane.
I remember taking a standardized test in school but it didnt determine if I passed.
I think we are putting too much pressure too soon on kids these days.
I've never felt like "teaching to the test" was necessarily a bad thing. Those tests are based on a curriculum put together by education higher ups in your state. They try to cover comprehensive knowledge that everyone should acquire. What's bad about that? Is the pressure on the kids coming from themselves or from the teachers and administrators? I know it puts pressure on everyone to perform, but that's what we expect from educators, smarter kids with a comprehensive grasp of the subjects they've been taught.
I hope that doesn't sound harsh. But I've read the same sentiments from other teachers.
Yes but you're talking about 6 year olds.
The curriculum for them should be reading writing and arithmetic and not comprehensive knowledge.
Does your 6 year old really need to know the 50 states of America or does he need to learn how to read and write? Bot much point having a test if the kids can't read the test properly in the first place is it?
I think that this year my students have learned some very valuable things from preparing for the test. And they learned test taking skills that will help them through all of the years of test taking that they have ahead of them.
My problem with this particular test is the pressure that is put on everybody. Newspapers publish the results of every school. Towns are ranked according to how well the schools performed in those towns. Real Estate prices change based on the scores. Teachers lose their jobs over low scores, causing some teachers to help students cheat.
So the pressure comes from everybody. The media, town officials, administration, parents, teachers, etc. and it hits these kids who are only 8 years old in a very profound way. They have nightmares over this test. I have tried to ease their fears as much as possible, but there's only so much I can do. They know how big this test is.
Did my kids gain some useful knowledge studying for this test? Yes. Absolutely. Would they have learned it through more creative, less stressful means if it weren't for the test? Yes. Absolutely.
It is all a money making scheme! I'm serious. Standardized testing is huge business.
Funny you mention neglecting science, Time a few weeks ago had an article about America falling behind when it comes to science. Well our poor teachers only have so much time in a day and now it's being spent teaching to tests. Test skills are valuable, but there are so many other worthwhile ways to spend our teaching time. (For the record, I'm sure you aren't neglecting science.)
I like the majority of you have major issues with the MCAS and similar standardized testing. The pressure does come from everywhere, yet it fall on the kids which is horrible.They are extremely aware of everything going on around them. So sad.
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