Sunday, January 18, 2015
Why Is There Such A Concern Surrounding Standardized Testing?
Chapter two focuses on many areas involved with assessments in early literacy including research, authentic assessments, running records and informal inventories, portfolio assessments, standardized tests, high stakes assessments, as well as standards. In this blog entry I will be focusing on the concerns associated with standardized testing. First things first, what is standardized testing? A standardized test is prepared by publishers and are norm reference tests, which means it is given to a variety of children in order to develop what the "norm" is. Knowing this, it is important to understand that a standardized test is only one form of assessments. There may be many portions of early literature that you, as a teacher, want to focus on but is not included in that test. For example, if you are wanting to test a student's prior knowledge on reading, the child might pass all of the portions of the standardized test, but is still not ready to read. It is important that the teacher realize what is on the test, what it is asking, and if it matches the instructional practice. One of the major concerns associated with standardized tests is the pressure on teachers with trying to meet their evaluation standards. This is known as high-stakes assessments. Sometimes teachers are so worried about their children passing in order for giving them a good evaluation score that they will teach their students what is on the test instead of following the curriculum they need to pass that current grade. It is important that the teacher not just "teach" but to use all elements, auditory, visual, and language, to measure their students to figure out where their strengths and weaknesses are in order to help them practice for what is on the test. Prior assessment for each individual child and planning a curriculum surrounding each individuals needs is the best way to prepare the child for the upcoming standardized test. With all this in mind, it is important to understand the concerns surrounding standardized testing, but to also be aware of the value it has.
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I really enjoyed how you pointed out that teachers have to teach how to take a test rather than what will be on the test. As I mentioned on Friday, after visiting my mom's classroom, I was astonished to find they were teaching test strategies rather than synonyms and antonyms. It is sad that teachers now have to take time from their days to teach the strategies instead of lessons that can truly benefit a child in the end. As you mentioned, a student can take a standardized test and pass, but still not know how to read. How many students today are slipping through that crack? Probably way too many.
ReplyDeleteIs it selfish for teachers to just want their students to pass? It is their jobs on the line. Every teacher is faced with this pressure to help shape brilliant students who all pass the same exam with flying colors. That is not reality, though. With all of the other assessments available, is there a better way to evaluate students across the state?
Thank you for bringing up this point! After spending all semester at Longfellow Elementary School in the fall, I saw just how much material is not covered because teachers are working on test taking skills. As I think back to my time in school, I don't remember learning test taking skills. I learned all about math, reading, writing, health, social studies, speech and science, as well as some important life skills. Do our students today not deserve to learn all that I did, just because they are stressed about passing a test? I understand the pressure teachers are under when it comes to this topic. Not only do they have to meet all the standards, but they have to make sure their classrooms are passing exams, which could put their job and salaries in jeopardy if not met. I hope sometime in our careers, we see law changes and see the stress of testing being lifted off the students and teachers!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your blog post! I completely agree that teachers are not able to reach their fullest potential because of the standardized testing. Teachers are sometimes forced to teach what is on the test rather than follow the curriculum. Is it entirely their fault? When I go home, I volunteer in a kindergarten classroom that I cadet taught at my senior year of high school. This past time volunteering the teacher I work with had six students on level red, which means they were not close to meeting standards. She was stressing because of how it would effect her pay and/or her job. Not only is this not fair to teachers but most of all the students who do not receive everything that can be taught due to a standardized test. This change needs to come from the state, standardized testing tells you nothing of the students abilities or capabilities. It only tells you if someone is able to pass a test or not. Not only is that frustrating for a teacher who wants nothing but the best for their students, but also for the children who do not pass and the stress it can provide them. Education is being looked at as one way track to how each student learns when we are taught that different students have different ways of learning and ways to express themselves.
ReplyDeleteI love how you included teaching to the different types of learners. It really is important to remember that teaching to the test and teaching based on research are different. You can teach to the test and teach based on research but you have to be careful not to put too much pressure on the students. The best way students learn is through authentic instruction. Someone really should write a guide on how to teach to the test through authentic instruction. Or we could just teach based in research and get rid of high-stakes testing.
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