Can I just have my kid's reading tutor send the teacher an email saying "Larla is reading at level X, which is below where she should be now in FCPS 2nd grade?" Serious question. My child is working with an FCPS reading specialist who tutors on weekends. Do I really need her to take this stupid test when we have a professional that can just talk to the teacher?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After they reach a certain grade, they will only have to take it once instead of 3 times.

It is significantly better than the DRA, btw. Way less class time spent on it.

Only from the teacher’s perspective. From the kid’s perspective, the Iready is much longer, especially if you have a young early reader. My kid spent hours on it in first grade for just the reading portion. THe DRA would have been over much faster for him.

Also from the student's perspective, since the student has a substitute for the month while the teacher tests every student.

But the teacher can do that this year on Mondays! So...

I made appointments to do testing with my students today. Out of 10 appointments, 3 students showed up. Now I have to reschedule the other 7 for next week which means I only have 3 spots for next week. You see how this goes?

I see how it goes. Like every other day, you're going to ignore the good students to waste time with the bad ones.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I opted out and will continue to do so for all things like this, including SOL’s, until schools is back 5 days. If the school doesn’t like it, IDGAF.

I support parents pulling out of testing if that’s what’s they think is best but please don’t think you’re punishing teacher and schools by doing so. You’re really not. Don’t make decisions out of spite unless they’re truly what’s best FOR YOUR KID, I promise your kid is the only one really affected by them.

I’m not trying to punish the schools. My kid gets straight A’s and is bored to tears. I don’t need a standardized test to tell me this. Lots of of families don’t want to waste their time on the test - I’m not sure why more don’t opt out. I did not receive any pushback when I opted out. I was not even asked why. I totally get the school/teacher does not care at all.

The thing is, when you opt out, you relieve schools/teachers of accountability. I get if your kid is straight As and you dont want the school to take credit for it. But if you think your child hasnt learned anything since March, taking the iReady will put schools/teachers on notice. If you opt out, they wont have to show objective evidence of learning/progress. There will be less incentive to move the needle for your child. Thats why many schools prefer lower performing kids to opt out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I opted out and will continue to do so for all things like this, including SOL’s, until schools is back 5 days. If the school doesn’t like it, IDGAF.

I support parents pulling out of testing if that’s what’s they think is best but please don’t think you’re punishing teacher and schools by doing so. You’re really not. Don’t make decisions out of spite unless they’re truly what’s best FOR YOUR KID, I promise your kid is the only one really affected by them.

I’m not trying to punish the schools. My kid gets straight A’s and is bored to tears. I don’t need a standardized test to tell me this. Lots of of families don’t want to waste their time on the test - I’m not sure why more don’t opt out. I did not receive any pushback when I opted out. I was not even asked why. I totally get the school/teacher does not care at all.

Anonymous wrote:I opted out and will continue to do so for all things like this, including SOL’s, until schools is back 5 days. If the school doesn’t like it, IDGAF.

I support parents pulling out of testing if that’s what’s they think is best but please don’t think you’re punishing teacher and schools by doing so. You’re really not. Don’t make decisions out of spite unless they’re truly what’s best FOR YOUR KID, I promise your kid is the only one really affected by them.

I opted out and will continue to do so for all things like this, including SOL’s, until schools is back 5 days. If the school doesn’t like it, IDGAF.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What's the rush, no one has learned anything since last March.

Well, then they have that baseline to start the year with.

OTOH, my kid has probably learned a crapton since March, because he's not been able to avoid his parents and their textbooks. However, I would like to see the scores to verify that this approach worked better than making Powerpoint slideshows about his feelings.

Thanks PP, this gave me a hearty laugh. Same for my kids.

Anonymous wrote:

What's the rush, no one has learned anything since last March.

Well, then they have that baseline to start the year with.

OTOH, my kid has probably learned a crapton since March, because he's not been able to avoid his parents and their textbooks. However, I would like to see the scores to verify that this approach worked better than making Powerpoint slideshows about his feelings.

This was a sheer, unmitigated sh*tshow at our school this past Monday. First grade. We were supposed to administer it at our homes. We were sent an email Friday after 5 pm, for the test to be done at 9:30 am Monday morning. Screw those of us with jobs and meetings. Then we were supposed to keep logged into our main classroom, cameras on, mics off, and do the assessment "synchronously". Well, the teachers wouldn't stop talking in the main classroom, so the kids couldn't hear the voice prompts. Finally we shut down the meeting. Apparently, in some other classrooms the parents were caught on camera and mic giving kids the answers. In our house, there was more screaming than in all of Exorcist and all the Scream movies combined, because I wouldn't provide help. It was very traumatic, but I know that's not how it goes in school. These teachers and the county have to recognize we are working in different conditions and some things are just not going to work, so don't expect them to work like they do for you! And make all of this optional, and create ways to assess the kids that are informative, helpful, and not traumatic. And finally get to effin teach them something. It's week for for Pete's sake!

Anonymous wrote:Teachers like I-ready b/c it is easier for them than doing individual assessments.

That’s right. They can do their nails or eat donuts. Individual assessments and real teaching is much of an effort for most of the teachers at our school.

Anonymous wrote:Teachers like I-ready b/c it is easier for them than doing individual assessments.

You don't know any teachers, do you?

Teachers like iready because it uses far less class time but it's not nearly as helpful or informative as the DRA. Tradeoffs.

Teachers like I-ready b/c it is easier for them than doing individual assessments.

You can only do DRA testing at certain parts of the year?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After they reach a certain grade, they will only have to take it once instead of 3 times.

It is significantly better than the DRA, btw. Way less class time spent on it.

Only from the teacher’s perspective. From the kid’s perspective, the Iready is much longer, especially if you have a young early reader. My kid spent hours on it in first grade for just the reading portion. THe DRA would have been over much faster for him.

Also from the student's perspective, since the student has a substitute for the month while the teacher tests every student.

But the teacher can do that this year on Mondays! So...

I made appointments to do testing with my students today. Out of 10 appointments, 3 students showed up. Now I have to reschedule the other 7 for next week which means I only have 3 spots for next week. You see how this goes?

What's the rush, no one has learned anything since last March.

As usual, someone spouting off who has no idea what they’re talking about.

It’s almost a month into school. That’s not a “rush.” You need a BASELINE benchmark, so you can’t do it 3 months into the year when they’ve gotten instruction again, that’s not a benchmark. Additionally, the testing companies only have testing windows open at certain times and when they close we cannot test kids again until the next window months away.

Stop acting like you know any damn thing about schools when you do not!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After they reach a certain grade, they will only have to take it once instead of 3 times.

It is significantly better than the DRA, btw. Way less class time spent on it.

Only from the teacher’s perspective. From the kid’s perspective, the Iready is much longer, especially if you have a young early reader. My kid spent hours on it in first grade for just the reading portion. THe DRA would have been over much faster for him.

Also from the student's perspective, since the student has a substitute for the month while the teacher tests every student.

But the teacher can do that this year on Mondays! So...

I made appointments to do testing with my students today. Out of 10 appointments, 3 students showed up. Now I have to reschedule the other 7 for next week which means I only have 3 spots for next week. You see how this goes?

What's the rush, no one has learned anything since last March.

Do you work? Doesn't your boss give you deadlines?