High stakes testing

Part 3: High Stakes Testing and Opting Out: The Variables

Posted on February 2, 2014 by Dora Taylor

  The Variables High stakes testing has ramifications including ending careers and affecting communities by closing schools. Hence, we need to look carefully at the variables that might affect a student’s performance on a test. Teachers and principals do not work in a vacuum. They have students with lives outside school. Students live in a real world. The real world affects how they behave and their ability to focus in class. These factors include: English being a second language The … →

Part 2: High stakes testing and opting out: The types of tests

Posted on February 1, 2014 by Dora Taylor

For the first part in this series, see Part 1: High stakes testing: A little history. High Stakes Testing and Opting Out: The Types of Tests  There are different types of tests that students typically take in a school year. One test the teacher creates and bases it on the information that has been provided in the classroom within a particular span of time. It provides information to the teacher, the parent and the student describing how much of a grasp … →

High Stakes Testing: Part 1

Posted on December 5, 2013 by Dora Taylor

To follow is the first in a series of posts describing what high stakes testing is, how it began, the ramifications of this type of testing and  how it will affect every student. High Stakes Testing: A Little History   “…I discovered then, in my early teaching career, that learning is best driven by ideas, challenges, experiences, and activities that engage students. My experience over the past 45 years has confirmed this. We have come far from that time in … →

The Opt Out Update

Posted on March 2, 2013 by Dora Taylor

(Originally posted on Seattle Education.) By the way, the third MAP test which is given in the Fall is solely for the use of NWEA. That’s why it’s “optional”. We’re spending precious resources and time so that NWEA can have more test scores to plug into their database. That’s right people. You will note on the Seattle Public School (SPS) website that the Fall test is optional. It’s not needed by SPS for the purpose of tracking student data. NWEA … →

The Weekly Update: Seattle teachers stand firm, testing push back around the country, a parent offers ideas for those opt-out days and Yong Zhao on testing and standardization

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Dora Taylor

The Weekly Update for the news and views you might have missed. It’s been quite a week in our fair city. Many of us here in Seattle have watched the destruction of the teaching profession, schools and communities around the country based on the use of standardized test scores to further an agenda of corporate reform and privatization using the scorched earth approach to education and we do not want to see that happen in Seattle or anywhere else for … →

Part 4: High Stakes Testing and Opting Out : The Consequences

Posted on November 22, 2012 by Dora Taylor

  The Consequences As long as policy and funding are determined by test results, we will be dealing with the consequences. There is the narrowing of focus to math and reading and less focus on history, social studies, the arts, foreign languages, writing, physical education, or developing research and critical thinking skills. The emphasis on test scores precludes looking more carefully at the cause of low test scores which include poverty, health and family issues as well as the effect … →

Part 3: High Stakes Testing and Opting Out: The Variables

Posted on November 18, 2012 by Dora Taylor

The Variables High stakes testing has ramifications including ending careers and affecting communities by closing schools. Hence, we need to look carefully at the variables that might affect a student’s performance on a test. Teachers and principals do not work in a vacuum. They have students with lives outside school. Students live in a real world. The real world affects how they behave and their ability to focus in class. These factors include: English being a second language The physical … →

Part 2: High Stakes Testing: The Types of Tests

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Dora Taylor

High Stakes Testing and Opting Out: The Types of Tests  – Dora Taylor There are different types of tests that students typically take in a school year. One test the teacher creates and bases it on the information that has been provided in the classroom within a particular span of time. It provides information to the teacher, the parent and the student describing how much of a grasp the student has on the material. Another test is a standardized test. … →

Part 1 : High Stakes Testing and Opting Out: A Short History

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Dora Taylor

  High Stakes Testing: A Short History “…I discovered then, in my early teaching career, that learning is best driven by ideas, challenges, experiences, and activities that engage students. My experience over the past 45 years has confirmed this. We have come far from that time in the ’60s. Now the mantra is high expectations and high standards. Yet, with all that zeal to produce measurable learning outcomes we have lost sight of the essential motivations to learn that moved … →