Reply to What does "teaching to the test" really mean?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

It seems like the best way to improve everything would be to find a decent test that focuses on the things DCPS actually wants students to be able to accomplish. Does such a test exist? Like the Regents exam in NY?[/quote]

Herein lies that problem.  The only thing DCPS wants students to do is to score higher on PARCC.[/quote]

Every school system wants their enrollees to score higher on whatever test they give. Do you think your observation of some major revelation?
[/quote]

You are missing the point.  You can score higher by teaching to the test or you can score higher by having a content rich curriculum.  Guess which one is in DCPS.[/quote]

You read 8 pages of replies with people explaining to you that "teaching to the test" isn't a a thing. And that's where you ended up? Ok...[/quote]

You have your head in the sand.  I suggest you read the thread again, especially the one from the teacher that has taught at a title 1 elementary school with 1st hand knowledge of the curriculum and what goes on every single day in the classroom.

Enjoy your denial and kid doing worksheets or whatever.[/quote]

Or the other 6 pages of people explaining that most schools spend very little time on it? And that this silly talking point about school being about the test? Or the fact that the phrase is only used to explain weak scores ("we don't teach to the test") or high scores ("LT was teaching to the test")? Or that test taking skills aren't specific to PARCC?

You and your buddies are creating something out of nothing. [/quote]

No, the majority of this thread are parents trying to defend teaching test taking skills.  They have no idea how much time is spent on it since they are not teachers.

Hard reality is that DCPS is all about PARCC scores.  Schools and the principals who run them, especially more so the poorly performing ones, are under immense pressure to bring up the scores however they can.  [/quote]

Sounds like you are a teacher. And also that you spend an inordinate amount of time teaching to the test. A lot of other teachers on this thread aren't doing that. Maybe this is you needing to improve as an educator and being less concerned with the test?[/quote]

Not the pp but it’s principals and coaches that are mandating this test prep.[/quote]

So then why are so many teachers and parents on this thread saying that is not happening at their schools? Why are the schools WOTP who have the best scores spending so little time on it? Even if other poorly performing schools are spending a lot of time on it, why do their scores still suck? And doesn't that indicate "teaching to the test" isn't a real strategy?[/quote]

Parents don't really know what's going on.  How could they?  They don't spend time in the classroom.  Educators don't want to admit it.[/quote]

The disdain teachers like you have for parents in thinking that we wouldn't know how much time is and is not spent on testing is alarming.[/quote]
 
I was a teacher and a parent. It’s not disdain; it’s self reflection. As parents we think we know what’s going on in school. It’s not until you get into the classroom that you see the real picture.[/quote]

There's another thread on DCUM right now where some WTU member "asks" if it bothers anyone that admins just got a raise and bonus and teachers didn't. Wanna know why parents haven't screamed en mass in support of teachers? Because of the pervasively piss poor attitude of your kind. I used to be on your side. Now I'm happy you all are getting screwed. You deserve it. Continue to make enemies of the constituencies that can help you and see how that works out. [/quote]

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