My second grader started “STAR” testing today, with the usual fanfare of an 8-year-old boy.
“How did it go?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” he mumbled.
“Was it like regular school?”
“I guess. Can I have a snack?”
His teacher started having the kids do practice tests about two weeks ago. He got every question right on every one. I would venture to say that the tests were too easy.
The kids don’t have homework this week. They are encouraged to get enough exercise, to eat a healthy breakfast, etc. These are things they should be doing every day, right?
My kid is bright, catches on easily, and likes tests as a challenge, especially math. His teacher told him that STAR testing is a method of making the state better and I suppose that is a nice vague explanation. I’m sure the school could be doing better things with the children’s time, like teaching them more things, I guess. But when I think about learning, and how I learn, and how children learn, I know that they can’t be constantly sitting in instruction. A few days of testing can’t hurt, right?
I have seen a lot of kerfluffle over the years about standardized testing, and teaching to the test, and so far I haven’t witnessed it in our school. So what’s the big deal?
photo from sonoma.edu
The big deal is the amount of time, energy and school district dollars going to for-profit companies for these tests. I have 2 current high school students who have had it up to ther eyebrows with testing and assessments. My 10th grader has all but given up. Here’s a direct quote: “for as long as I can remember in school, every time we get to something interesting, we stop and go back to review again and again for the standardized tests.” The school psychologist has admitted to my son that his school is failing him.
His 9th grade brother approaches things differently, but feels much the same way. “No learning today, Mom, just assessments.” There seems to be little or no room for creative teaching or tangential learning in their environment.
That little note you got about getting rest and good food in preparation for the test? That’s just the tip of the iceberg. When I was a kid, we didn’t know when it was going to be testing day. It was just a regular school day. Now kids and parents are told weeks in advance with regular reminders about how important it is to do well on the tests.
My 2 older children are five and six years older than their younger brothers who are currently I high school. Even they recognize how the testing stakes have been raised and that there is huge pressure being placed on kids because school funding is riding on their shoulders.
I’m sorry if this seems like a rant, but you asked.
To alleviate some of the palpable test anxiety in my kids,, I try to remind them that it is the school being tested, and that they should do the best they can, but not worry about it. But my kids are smart and realize that that is only partially true. They are also getting different, high pressure messages from within the school.
I have raised six children. The entire climate at school has be reoriented toward testing. My mother was a teacher, I have good friends who are teachers and I have taught. I can sense the frustration on the part of really great dedicated educators. Certainly, assessments are important and have their role in education, but they should not make up the bulk of school experience. I’m eager to hear other opinions. Thanks for asking the questions.
We’re still only in elementary school, but the issues hit about 3rd grade – besides the 9 days (well, 1/2 days) of testing it’s the prep – when things like science and art are cancelled as that is not on the test, and as stated above, the huge amounts of money to be made by continually changing the tests. There is also stress some kids feel, I’ve heard stories of kids throwing up from stress, and the teachers are told to bag up the test and mail it in. I’ve seen kids faces fall after they are told to stop reading, and practice the test, which are boring and confusing at best. Even worse than funding tied to tests, is now teachers salaries, bonuses, even their jobs, which can lead to mass cheating or to losing great teachers who happen to be at schools with disadvantaged kids or whatever makes kids not do well on these tests.
My kids, too, are mostly just bored, especially when they finish early, although one tonight said the test was actually not bad. But it’s not that one that one test that one day, but an epidemic of standardized testing.
This is the only thing you need to watch!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY2mRM4i6tY
I think most people have issues because their kids don’t do well.
I never understood it either because I was a great test taker and so is my kid but some people aren’t and some might even need assistance for dyslexia & other issues.
Celina, I respectfully disagree. All my kids have done extremely well on standardized test. The issue for them is that they have checked out of regular classroom teaching that has been reoriented to focus on the standardized tests. Even my son with special learning needs did very well on the tests. Their performance is not the issue at all. Accommodations can and have been made. You should also know that the scores of kids with IEP (individual education plans) do not count in the school’s testing performance.
P.S., I apologize for all the typos in my earlier comment. It was done on my phone.
Susan recently posted…Them’s Fightin’ Words
I agree with Susan (both comments). My oldest is off the charts in testing, but his whole year has been taught to this moment—sometimes subtly and other times not so much, and in the meantime there are real learning opportunities that are missed. Nearly every parent I know (at any school) feels somewhat defeated by the cloud of testing, and to their credit, most of the teachers and administrators at the current school agree. They call it a necessary evil.
My youngest doesn’t test yet, but even his day is affected. All he has talked about for the past week is how they will move playgrounds, have P.E. inside, and not enter their class the way they always do—things they have done as routine all year are altered for a week so as not to disturb the tests.
We receive letter, emails, phone calls, more emails, and monologues from the kids that they have obviously learned from rote about the importance of testing. It is ridiculous. I’m a believer in children developing an education that they can use forever, not just one high-pressure performance.
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I don’t know what is up with your schools. We do one week in the fall and one in the spring, no biggie.
Also, private schools take standardized tests too and no one complains about them doing it.
Celina, schools in California are royally screwed by our state’s miserable budget. That could be one reason.
As to the other points, I do think that it seems to get worse as the kids get older. I dread. Thank you all for your comments. What is there to be done about it?
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