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Moehick
Ready for the sun!
Member since 5/05 30339 total posts
Name:
Properly perfect™
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So what do you think of the ELA and Math test being pushed till May?
I for one hate the idea....now my year will be non stop test prep vs. it ending by March and having the freedom to do creative and fun projects.
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Posted 8/17/09 2:00 PM  |
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Jen2999
Baby girls & beagles rock!
Member since 8/06 10356 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: So what do you think of the ELA and Math test being pushed till May?
Ummm, I have mixed feelings.
I think the kids will do WAY better on the exam in May vs. January, but I also hate that I will be prepping for so much longer.
January is a horrible time to take an exam. The kids are just getting into the groove of the year, just back from the holiday break, its cold out, kids are sick etc etc etc.
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| Posted 8/17/09 3:56 PM |
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vitha
LIF Infant
Member since 8/06 191 total posts
Name:
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Re: So what do you think of the ELA and Math test being pushed till May?
Posted by Moehick
I for one hate the idea....now my year will be non stop test prep vs. it ending by March and having the freedom to do creative and fun projects.
I agree. Plus they have to retain way more info over a longer period of time...
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| Posted 8/17/09 6:08 PM |
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jewels
Stop and smell the flowers
Member since 7/06 1538 total posts
Name:
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Re: So what do you think of the ELA and Math test being pushed till May?
i thought i was the only one that wasn't thrilled about it - glad to see i'm not alone. i liked having some time between the ela and math exams. plus i have kids who all take the esl exam and that is in april so now it's going to be 2 months of nonstop testing. plus i agree about this taking away some of the time i devoted to more creative projects that used to go on the back burner until after the exams.
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| Posted 8/17/09 9:08 PM |
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Arieschick29
aries+cancer= pisces&gemini
Member since 3/06 4268 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: So what do you think of the ELA and Math test being pushed till May?
I think it's great- it gives the students more time to learn and retain skills by practicing and not just doing test prep.
Teaching to the test does not work!
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| Posted 8/17/09 10:11 PM |
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PennyCat
Just call me mommy :)
Member since 7/08 19084 total posts
Name:
Jib
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Re: So what do you think of the ELA and Math test being pushed till May?
I don't like that the tests are SO close together but other than that I don't mind...
At least now I don't have to start test prep in SEPTEMBER! The ELA test in January was just dumb 
Plus, after ALL the exams were over by the middle of March ... we are all just so burnt out by all the test prep but then they (meaning the DOE) come up with all this new stuff to bog us down with..... almost to prove a point that the school year isn't over yet....... remember? At least that's how it was in my school... the math test was done, we all breathed a sigh of relief, and then we had to worry about those goals! 
At least this is closer to the end of the year so can feel like we are working towards a common goal 
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| Posted 8/17/09 10:42 PM |
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MissJones
I need a nap!
Member since 5/05 22136 total posts
Name:
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Re: So what do you think of the ELA and Math test being pushed till May?
The one thing that I DON'T think is good about it may sound kind of silly but I know for graduating grades, it isn't.
Aside from the idea that now teachers will be teaching for the test for the WHOLE year, I also think about how little time they will be able to devote to end of year things like plays and stuff. 
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| Posted 8/18/09 7:46 AM |
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Teachergal
We made a snowman!
Member since 1/08 3239 total posts
Name:
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Re: So what do you think of the ELA and Math test being pushed till May?
Posted by MissJones
The one thing that I DON'T think is good about it may sound kind of silly but I know for graduating grades, it isn't.
Aside from the idea that now teachers will be teaching for the test for the WHOLE year, I also think about how little time they will be able to devote to end of year things like plays and stuff.
As a fifth grade teacher, I think this is a great point!
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| Posted 8/18/09 10:42 PM |
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Moehick
Ready for the sun!
Member since 5/05 30339 total posts
Name:
Properly perfect™
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Re: So what do you think of the ELA and Math test being pushed till May?
Gone are my literature circles and book clubs, social studies plays and debates, math projects and experiments...sigh...
I know that in my school test prep will now go from September till May
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| Posted 8/18/09 11:13 PM |
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Arieschick29
aries+cancer= pisces&gemini
Member since 3/06 4268 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: So what do you think of the ELA and Math test being pushed till May?
I am absolutely SHOCKED that so many of you are in schools where getting ready for these tests take precedence over just plain old learning!
What about centers?
Reading groups?
Hands-on learning?
Projects?
All of these help student learn better, thereby RETAINING the material for the tests. Doing practice tests over and over does not increase intelligence.
In my school, we spend 3 days MAX getting ready for the test- whether it was in Jan./March or pushed back until May.
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| Posted 8/19/09 9:23 AM |
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sarahbelle
Little drummer boy
Member since 5/05 2377 total posts
Name:
Sarah
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Re: So what do you think of the ELA and Math test being pushed till May?
When will we see the results? After the kids move on to the next grade?
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| Posted 8/19/09 11:15 AM |
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donegal419
St. Gerard, pray for us.
Member since 7/07 7650 total posts
Name:
K
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Re: So what do you think of the ELA and Math test being pushed till May?
Posted by Arieschick29
I think it's great- it gives the students more time to learn and retain skills by practicing and not just doing test prep.
Teaching to the test does not work!
ITA!
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| Posted 8/19/09 12:56 PM |
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Moehick
Ready for the sun!
Member since 5/05 30339 total posts
Name:
Properly perfect™
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Re: So what do you think of the ELA and Math test being pushed till May?
Posted by Arieschick29
I am absolutely SHOCKED that so many of you are in schools where getting ready for these tests take precedence over just plain old learning!
What about centers?
Reading groups?
Hands-on learning?
Projects?
All of these help student learn better, thereby RETAINING the material for the tests. Doing practice tests over and over does not increase intelligence.
In my school, we spend 3 days MAX getting ready for the test- whether it was in Jan./March or pushed back until May.
ITA....guess your not in the city?
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| Posted 8/19/09 2:25 PM |
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Arieschick29
aries+cancer= pisces&gemini
Member since 3/06 4268 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: So what do you think of the ELA and Math test being pushed till May?
Posted by Moehick
Posted by Arieschick29
I am absolutely SHOCKED that so many of you are in schools where getting ready for these tests take precedence over just plain old learning!
What about centers?
Reading groups?
Hands-on learning?
Projects?
All of these help student learn better, thereby RETAINING the material for the tests. Doing practice tests over and over does not increase intelligence.
In my school, we spend 3 days MAX getting ready for the test- whether it was in Jan./March or pushed back until May.
ITA....guess your not in the city?
No I'm not. I'm in a city school district in the Hudson Valley. My Principal is the main reason though- she will not let us take more than 2 or 3 practice tests and that's just so kids are familiar with bubbling in answers, checking work, and test format.
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| Posted 8/19/09 4:50 PM |
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BigB
C & J are 10!
Member since 6/05 5914 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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Re: So what do you think of the ELA and Math test being pushed till May?
I teach in the city and my school does not teach to the test.....we teach skills that the students can use on the exam. Remember that the test is not one of knowledge, but one of skills.
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| Posted 8/20/09 12:45 PM |
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Erica
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 11767 total posts
Name:
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Re: So what do you think of the ELA and Math test being pushed till May?
My district doesn't care about test results...so I guess that's good.
Personally, I'm special area, so I'm the one that gets sent to BOCES to grade...and I'm much happier to do it during nice weather - since we usually get out early!
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| Posted 8/20/09 7:37 PM |
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bookworm
Two Little Rosebuds
Member since 8/09 2106 total posts
Name:
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Re: So what do you think of the ELA and Math test being pushed till May?
Posted by Arieschick29
I am absolutely SHOCKED that so many of you are in schools where getting ready for these tests take precedence over just plain old learning!
What about centers?
Reading groups?
Hands-on learning?
Projects?
All of these help student learn better, thereby RETAINING the material for the tests. Doing practice tests over and over does not increase intelligence.
In my school, we spend 3 days MAX getting ready for the test- whether it was in Jan./March or pushed back until May.
how many of the teachers on here are tenured? i put test prep in my plan book and then i teach for real in the classroom. i do work literacy strategies into much of what i do with my middle-schoolers, but i make my class more engaging than i ever could if i followed all the directives to do testing drills week in and week out. my kids consistently perform well. to me, the point of tenure is to safeguard learning against the winds of political change, and that's what i do.
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| Posted 8/21/09 2:33 PM |
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jenheartsrob
LIF Adult
Member since 5/06 1861 total posts
Name:
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Re: So what do you think of the ELA and Math test being pushed till May?
I have a question... I'm a special area teacher... Now that the tests are in May, will the amount of content the kids are responsible for increase or will it be the same curriculum? I know at the end of the year there was confusion as to whether, for example, the post-March curriculum in Math would be on the new test? That was ambiguous and would be a big factor in determining whether people in my bldg were happy about the change or not....
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| Posted 8/22/09 10:18 AM |
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Niblet
LIF Adult
Member since 5/07 922 total posts
Name:
Cher
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Re: So what do you think of the ELA and Math test being pushed till May?
ELA is at the end of April after Spring Break
Math is in May
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| Posted 8/22/09 2:30 PM |
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Moehick
Ready for the sun!
Member since 5/05 30339 total posts
Name:
Properly perfect™
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Re: So what do you think of the ELA and Math test being pushed till May?
Posted by jenheartsrob
I have a question... I'm a special area teacher... Now that the tests are in May, will the amount of content the kids are responsible for increase or will it be the same curriculum? I know at the end of the year there was confusion as to whether, for example, the post-March curriculum in Math would be on the new test? That was ambiguous and would be a big factor in determining whether people in my bldg were happy about the change or not....
Good question...I would like to know the answer to this too.
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| Posted 8/22/09 9:40 PM |
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PennyCat
Just call me mommy :)
Member since 7/08 19084 total posts
Name:
Jib
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Re: So what do you think of the ELA and Math test being pushed till May?
Posted by Arieschick29
Posted by Moehick
Posted by Arieschick29
I am absolutely SHOCKED that so many of you are in schools where getting ready for these tests take precedence over just plain old learning!
What about centers?
Reading groups?
Hands-on learning?
Projects?
All of these help student learn better, thereby RETAINING the material for the tests. Doing practice tests over and over does not increase intelligence.
In my school, we spend 3 days MAX getting ready for the test- whether it was in Jan./March or pushed back until May.
ITA....guess your not in the city?
No I'm not. I'm in a city school district in the Hudson Valley. My Principal is the main reason though- she will not let us take more than 2 or 3 practice tests and that's just so kids are familiar with bubbling in answers, checking work, and test format.
I work in the city and my school absolutely teaches to the test.. The test is like my school's bible!
I haven't been in the school too long so I go along with what they tell us, but I try to make it as creative as possible. My kids did very well last year, so that's good.
It really does give other kids an unfair advantage that some kids who were 'taught to the test' take practice tests again..... and again....... and AGAIN.......... while others see the test for the first time the week that it's given.
Am I surprised by the flaw system? Nope. But like I said, I'm new so I have no choice but to go wit the flow... I'm not in the position to ruffle anyone's feathers, if you know what I mean
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| Posted 8/22/09 10:32 PM |
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