Reply to when schools focus on the wrong things (from a teacher)

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Ummm, where to start? 
 I'm a first grade teacher. Here is a list of just some of the assessments my students take each year: 
 *Easy CBM math (yes computer), 3 x a year to all kids 1:1. Weekly progress monitoring 1:1 to any kid severely behind, bi-weekly to kids somewhat behind, monthly to everyone. 
 *Easy CBM reading (part computer, part person based) given 1:1 3x a year. a) phonics sounds, b) word segmentation c) word reading d) passage fluency. Weekly progress monitoring to any kid severely behind, bi-weekly to kids somewhat behind, monthly to everyone. 
 *Sight word testing on 136 words, 3x a year benchmark. Weekly progress monitoring to any kid severely behind, bi-weekly to kids somewhat behind, monthly to everyone. Given 1:1 
 * Fountas and Pinnell running records. An intensive reading test where we measure miscues, comprehension, a written response and fluency. It takes about 30-45 per kid and in my district teachers have to do this while the entire rest of the class is working independently. This happens 3x a year for everyone and then another 3-6x a year per kid based on need. Given 1:1 
 *writing opinion paragraph benchmarks, 3x a year. Plus monthly to assess progress for instruction. Given whole group 
 * math unit tests. About 8 times a year. Quizzes another 6-8 times a year. Given whole group 
 *Access testing for ESL students 1x a year. Given in small groups

This is less than teachers used to do. It is not more. Also most of those reading tests that take so long are being taken out of school districts in favor of scantron tests after teachers have been complaining - see they were effective. I doubt your school system will have that for much longer. Do you remember the basal reading books? Teachers would have to grade reading responses weekly for those. They don't have to do that anymore. It was like grading one of those Fountas Pinnell tests weekly.

8 times a year tests on math? Again, do you remember weekly math tests plus cumulative tests for each unit? I do.

I'm not sure what is involved with weekly progress monitoring, however teachers have been monitoring progress weekly for years. If that is done ineffectively, that is an issue, but it is the process of it, not the task itself.

[/quote]

reply sounds like it was written by an administrator.

Do you know the difference in the old unit tests and the new computer generated tests?  The teacher graded them and saw where the problems were herself/himself rather than reading a computer sheet.  Sure, it may have taken time--but, the information meant more.  A standardized test from time to time could keep you on track, as well.  However, these computer printouts are also used by some administrators to rate teachers.[/quote]

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