I just want to add my two cents to this discussion. In my state we use the Smarter Balanced version of these tests. I have examined the sample questions and they are WAAAY over the heads of the kids who have to answer them. The worse part to me was the fact that children have to answer every question in order to complete the test. Where there is multiple choice, it’s easy to just guess and move on. However, many questions require the students to compose an answer (each answer in the math section also requires different use of the technology — even I had trouble figuring out how to put in answers for some questions). So if a child does not know how to answer the question (likely!), they have to just make up something and type it into the test. I don’t know about you, but making up senseless answers is not something I want my child to be taught how to do! There are so many things wrong with this test that to list them all would fill a book. If you haven’t already, and if it’s not too late, please look into opting your kids out of these tests.
One of the biggest challenges to those of us who oppose privatization, school closings, high-stakes testing, and the rest of the failed ideas mistakenly called “reform” have a big job to do. We must educate the public. The public hears the word “reform,” and they think it means progress and improvement. They don’t know it means chaos and disruption of their local public schools. They hear about testing, and they think, “I took tests, what’s so bad about that?”
Here is a fine example of educating the public. It appeared in my local newspaper, the Suffolk Times-Review (recently recognized as the best weekly in New York state). It was written by Gregory Wallace, a former “educator of the year.”
Wallace explains in plain language for non-educators why the Common Core testing will harm public education.
He writes:
As a seasoned educator, I strongly believe that well-designed tests are a valuable…
View original post 522 more words
Books 'n stuff by Donna 