| Posted By |
Message |
| Pages: << 3 4 5 [6] |
stinger
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 4971 total posts
Name:
|
Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by My2Girlz11
I heard the 3rd and 4th grade test was very difficult. The passages were over the kids reading levels, way over. The fifth grade test I thought was fair. The passages I didn't feel were too difficult. There were actually many interesting articles, this came from my special education students. I am not sure how my students did, since they are not on grade level reading levels. However, this years passages I feel were grade level appropriate. The last two years, I felt the passages were more difficult. The questions were difficult though and many the kids really had to think through two answers.
The timing was still a big issue though. 90 minutes to read 6 passages and answer 42 questions is not reasonable. They need to shorten the tests. The third day was even worse. They have three passages and five short response questions and an essay. In all grades, students didn't finish or they were struggling to finish on time.
My DD is in 4th gets extra time and still did not finish. She said she had no idea what a lot of the vocabulary was.
|
Posted 4/17/15 4:05 PM  |
| |
|
My2Girlz11
LIF Adolescent
Member since 1/11 785 total posts
Name:
Corrie
|
Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by stinger
Posted by My2Girlz11
I heard the 3rd and 4th grade test was very difficult. The passages were over the kids reading levels, way over. The fifth grade test I thought was fair. The passages I didn't feel were too difficult. There were actually many interesting articles, this came from my special education students. I am not sure how my students did, since they are not on grade level reading levels. However, this years passages I feel were grade level appropriate. The last two years, I felt the passages were more difficult. The questions were difficult though and many the kids really had to think through two answers.
The timing was still a big issue though. 90 minutes to read 6 passages and answer 42 questions is not reasonable. They need to shorten the tests. The third day was even worse. They have three passages and five short response questions and an essay. In all grades, students didn't finish or they were struggling to finish on time.
My DD is in 4th gets extra time and still did not finish. She said she had no idea what a lot of the vocabulary was.
I am hearing the same issue from people who teach in those grades
|
| Posted 4/17/15 4:25 PM |
| |
|
cj7305
=)
Member since 8/05 12296 total posts
Name:
|
Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by MrsGmomof3
Backpacks full of enjoyable reading for my kids for the testing days.
Proud to report that only 5 out of 29 kids in my sons class are testing... and 3 of those parents have subsequently opted their kids out of the math tests!
Starve the political, money grabbing, control hogs!
Awesome!
|
| Posted 4/17/15 8:05 PM |
| |
|
cj7305
=)
Member since 8/05 12296 total posts
Name:
|
Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by ggt08
I know this is a big debate so I am going to say this. For parents who refused the test AND parents who have kids taking the test, DEMAND from ALBANY that they release the test, ALL of it so you can see and judge for yourself. If it is that age appropriate and fair, they should have not problem doing this.
After today, I am pleading with all parents, you can't state an opinion based only on the kids reactions. Because we relax them after, had extra recess, fun reading, math games, many went home feeling ok at the end of the day because they forgot what the morning was like. (tears, banging heads etc. I'm talking all intelligence spectrums) I had to call a parent today bc of the tears coming from her daughter and sh'es like I wish I would've known, she came home and was ok yesterday.
I cried today. Literally cried for your kids. YOUR kids. This does not prepare them for anything but stress at an early age. I believe in testing and assessments but on a fair level and with questions that are on their level or a tiny bit above. First day, one of 5 passages on 3rd Grade ELA test was a level 5.3 (5th grade month 3) Today one of the passages was on the Aurora Borealis!!! Some couldn't even pronounce it! Do you know what swashbuckled is? swagger? Those were the questions they asked.
At the end of the day, it is your opinion and judgement call. But if so many educators are telling you this is wrong, on so many levels, please consider doing more research, investigating and demanding. We live in democratic nation and are lucky to have the freedoms to speak out when things are wrong. This is WRONG.
I could not agree more with all of this. I am just sick about all that is going on.
|
| Posted 4/17/15 8:13 PM |
| |
|
WhatNow
Say Cheese!
Member since 1/06 8033 total posts
Name:
A (formerly WhatNow?)
|
Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by ggt08
I know this is a big debate so I am going to say this. For parents who refused the test AND parents who have kids taking the test, DEMAND from ALBANY that they release the test, ALL of it so you can see and judge for yourself.
How does one do that??
|
| Posted 4/19/15 2:06 AM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by WhatNow
Posted by ggt08
I know this is a big debate so I am going to say this. For parents who refused the test AND parents who have kids taking the test, DEMAND from ALBANY that they release the test, ALL of it so you can see and judge for yourself.
How does one do that??
I am not sure but I would like to see it myself even though my kid is not in 3rd till next year.
When I taught ELA, the state tests were always available on the website. It was a great help in terms of preparing the kids. At the time I did not appreciate the transparency element- any one, parent or teacher, could look at both ELA and math state tests and go back several years.
|
| Posted 4/19/15 7:22 PM |
| |
|
Bebelove
LIF Adolescent
Member since 8/12 742 total posts
Name:
|
Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
They are taking the tests. Can't opt out of anything in life, its just another standardized test to the kids.
|
| Posted 4/19/15 8:15 PM |
| |
|
Faithx2
All good things in 2016!!
Member since 8/05 20181 total posts
Name:
|
Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Opted out. All of our 3rd grade classes had a handful of kids left taking the test. DD's class had 3 kids taking the test. I feel bad for those 3 kids that may feel bad because they have to take it and everyone else doesn't. I get the idea that you cannot opt of of life's test but to measure a teacher's performance on a test that is set up so much higher than the grade level taking it is just plain wrong...
|
| Posted 4/20/15 10:42 AM |
| |
|
stinger
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 4971 total posts
Name:
|
Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by Bebelove
They are taking the tests. Can't opt out of anything in life, its just another standardized test to the kids.
Thats what I told my kids cause I sort of see this viewpoint too. I was thinking if the tests are truly inappropriate then maybe the results and data of this years test will prove it. However, we wont know until after they actually take the tests right?
|
| Posted 4/20/15 2:08 PM |
| |
|
PatsBrat
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 2326 total posts
Name:
Ms. Brat
|
Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by stinger
Posted by Bebelove
They are taking the tests. Can't opt out of anything in life, its just another standardized test to the kids.
Thats what I told my kids cause I sort of see this viewpoint too. I was thinking if the tests are truly inappropriate then maybe the results and data of this years test will prove it. However, we wont know until after they actually take the tests right?
I based my refusal on the last 2 years tests, which were off the chart inappropriate. I teach third grade and saw them for myself.
For the past 2 years I had the same "you can't opt out of life" opinion, but this year I decided to teach my kids a new lesson, about quietly and peacefully taking a stand to make change happen.
|
| Posted 4/20/15 4:31 PM |
| |
|
busymomonli
Resident Insomniac
Member since 4/13 2050 total posts
Name:
|
Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
The past two years have already proved this. The first year they new tests were rolled out, the "failure rate" was 70%!! If that's not proof, I don't know what is.
|
| Posted 4/20/15 4:35 PM |
| |
|
Chatham-Chick
*********************
Member since 5/05 10311 total posts
Name:
|
Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by stinger
Posted by Bebelove
They are taking the tests. Can't opt out of anything in life, its just another standardized test to the kids.
Thats what I told my kids cause I sort of see this viewpoint too. I was thinking if the tests are truly inappropriate then maybe the results and data of this years test will prove it. However, we wont know until after they actually take the tests right?
The tests were inappropriate the previous years too. Its just that many parents figure "it's a test...you can't opt out of every test" without researching or looking into what these tests actually measure, what they do with the data, how it's scored and what the state's long term plan is when it comes to education.
The teacher evaluations are a related, but different issue that I also find to be unfair.
I've explained to my DD that this isn't specifically about her and how well she will or won't do on the tests. That she's not to get the idea that she can just opt out of tests whenever she feels like it, but this is a bigger and complicated issue and my not having her take the test is my way, along with many other parents, of being heard.
|
| Posted 4/20/15 4:54 PM |
| |
|
cj7305
=)
Member since 8/05 12296 total posts
Name:
|
Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by Chatham-Chick
Posted by stinger
Posted by Bebelove
They are taking the tests. Can't opt out of anything in life, its just another standardized test to the kids.
Thats what I told my kids cause I sort of see this viewpoint too. I was thinking if the tests are truly inappropriate then maybe the results and data of this years test will prove it. However, we wont know until after they actually take the tests right?
The tests were inappropriate the previous years too. Its just that many parents figure "it's a test...you can't opt out of every test" without researching or looking into what these tests actually measure, what they do with the data, how it's scored and what the state's long term plan is when it comes to education.
The teacher evaluations are a related, but different issue that I also find to be unfair.
I've explained to my DD that this isn't specifically about her and how well she will or won't do on the tests. That she's not to get the idea that she can just opt out of tests whenever she feels like it, but this is a bigger and complicated issue and my not having her take the test is my way, along with many other parents, of being heard.
|
| Posted 4/20/15 8:06 PM |
| |
|
cj7305
=)
Member since 8/05 12296 total posts
Name:
|
Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by PatsBrat
For the past 2 years I had the same "you can't opt out of life" opinion, but this year I decided to teach my kids a new lesson, about quietly and peacefully taking a stand to make change happen.
I could not agree with this more and I applaud you! This is NOT about not doing something when you think it is hard or just don't want to do it. I think it is important for parents of children who are refusing the test to explain to them WHY they are doing so. This is about taking a stand against something that is wrong. Advocating for others. Looking beyond your own situation and defending what is right. If this is not a good life lesson for children then I do not know what is.
|
| Posted 4/20/15 8:16 PM |
| |
|
stinger
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 4971 total posts
Name:
|
Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
I get what youre saying. Now I am pissed because my 6th graders math teacher used a state test review booklet and GRADED them on it like it was a regular classroom/take home exam! It's counted as 60% of her grade (along with other class quizzes and exams) and I dont think thats fair.
|
| Posted 4/20/15 8:28 PM |
| |
|
| Pages: << 3 4 5 [6] |
