Comments on: Trim the Tests http://christiedeanna.edublogs.org/2007/12/02/trim-the-tests/ Aristotle Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:47:49 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: “Every student can learn, just not on the same day, or the same way.” George Evans | Comments… http://christiedeanna.edublogs.org/2007/12/02/trim-the-tests/comment-page-1/#comment-12 “Every student can learn, just not on the same day, or the same way.” George Evans | Comments… Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:15:54 +0000 http://christiedeanna.edublogs.org/2007/12/02/trim-the-tests/#comment-12 [...]  Christie  [...] [...]  Christie  [...]

]]> By: rachelaren http://christiedeanna.edublogs.org/2007/12/02/trim-the-tests/comment-page-1/#comment-11 rachelaren Tue, 04 Dec 2007 04:45:56 +0000 http://christiedeanna.edublogs.org/2007/12/02/trim-the-tests/#comment-11 I 100% agree; standardized tests are really only a way to mesure the effectiveness of how the school measuring up against other schools. I became particulary intereted in the quote that standarized takes away teacher's professionalism. Scarey; true. It's so frustraing to think that so much time from teaching will be stripped away in order to prepare studnets to take the MEAP. But I also liked the section about how only the teaher knows if Jonny has learned what he has suppoed to learn. So true! What if teachers could write the test to measure the children's knowledge (someway, somehow). I guess it really just boils down the simeple question: what is the point? Is anything being proven, prevented and/or changing because of this test. Because if things are giong to be the same, year after year, then its time to take this test out with the garbage. Ineresting post! I 100% agree; standardized tests are really only a way to mesure the effectiveness of how the school measuring up against other schools.

I became particulary intereted in the quote that standarized takes away teacher’s professionalism. Scarey; true. It’s so frustraing to think that so much time from teaching will be stripped away in order to prepare studnets to take the MEAP.

But I also liked the section about how only the teaher knows if Jonny has learned what he has suppoed to learn. So true! What if teachers could write the test to measure the children’s knowledge (someway, somehow).

I guess it really just boils down the simeple question: what is the point? Is anything being proven, prevented and/or changing because of this test. Because if things are giong to be the same, year after year, then its time to take this test out with the garbage.

Ineresting post!

]]> By: kayda http://christiedeanna.edublogs.org/2007/12/02/trim-the-tests/comment-page-1/#comment-10 kayda Tue, 04 Dec 2007 03:58:20 +0000 http://christiedeanna.edublogs.org/2007/12/02/trim-the-tests/#comment-10 I absolutely agree with this article, and I think the writer needs to speak out more and be heard across the country. I completely agree with the quote about "empowering teachers" and then stripping away that power. Politicians run on platforms of higher accountability, progress, and so on, gaining the trust of educators and administrators. But once the politicians are in office, they go back on their promises and pass laws like No Child Left Behind, which tie teachers' hands and force them to teach to tests to meet AYP. I absolutely agree with this article, and I think the writer needs to speak out more and be heard across the country.

I completely agree with the quote about “empowering teachers” and then stripping away that power. Politicians run on platforms of higher accountability, progress, and so on, gaining the trust of educators and administrators. But once the politicians are in office, they go back on their promises and pass laws like No Child Left Behind, which tie teachers’ hands and force them to teach to tests to meet AYP.

]]> By: Carrie http://christiedeanna.edublogs.org/2007/12/02/trim-the-tests/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Carrie Mon, 03 Dec 2007 01:27:44 +0000 http://christiedeanna.edublogs.org/2007/12/02/trim-the-tests/#comment-9 I think it is interesting that you say you had no opinion about standardized tests in high school. Personally, I loved taking standardized tests because it was a break from normal classes, and filling in those little bubbles is kinda fun (I’m serious!). I was also fortunate in that I did not suffer from test anxiety. But, like you said, I never thought about the fact that the tests were only measuring how well the school was teaching us. It’s funny to look back on that actually…kinda. Anyways, now I know better. I actually just wrote a post on standardized testing as well, and I think it really compliments your post. The author, Elina Sirotskaya, points out that standardized tests really don’t measure a student’s actual knowledge or anything else of real importance. She wrote, “Whether you are smart, stupid, lazy, or hardworking is being limited to how fast and how accurately you can darken the circles on a multiple-choice test.” Apparently, being able to accurately fill in those circles is more important than actually learning. Well, I guess I used to think it was more fun than actually learning, so I guess I see where they are coming from (*sarcasm*). Anyways, I agree with you, Christie. Teachers do know better than anyone how well their students can read or write or add or whatever. The state only knows how well they can fill in bubbles. The teacher’s judgment/opinion should definitely be more important than the test scores. I think it is interesting that you say you had no opinion about standardized tests in high school. Personally, I loved taking standardized tests because it was a break from normal classes, and filling in those little bubbles is kinda fun (I’m serious!). I was also fortunate in that I did not suffer from test anxiety. But, like you said, I never thought about the fact that the tests were only measuring how well the school was teaching us. It’s funny to look back on that actually…kinda. Anyways, now I know better.

I actually just wrote a post on standardized testing as well, and I think it really compliments your post. The author, Elina Sirotskaya, points out that standardized tests really don’t measure a student’s actual knowledge or anything else of real importance. She wrote, “Whether you are smart, stupid, lazy, or hardworking is being limited to how fast and how accurately you can darken the circles on a multiple-choice test.” Apparently, being able to accurately fill in those circles is more important than actually learning. Well, I guess I used to think it was more fun than actually learning, so I guess I see where they are coming from (*sarcasm*). Anyways, I agree with you, Christie. Teachers do know better than anyone how well their students can read or write or add or whatever. The state only knows how well they can fill in bubbles. The teacher’s judgment/opinion should definitely be more important than the test scores.

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