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mema2012
LIF Infant
Member since 10/12 333 total posts
Name:
Mema
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Extra test prep homework for test takers?
My 5th grade DD will be taking the state tests this year. We opted her out in 3rd grade, she actually wanted to take the tests last year and did fine.
About a week or two ago, her teachers began doing "test prep". Last week, she came home with a thick packets of ELA and math prep...basically tests from the past. The ELA portion consists of several reading passages, 5 or 6 short essays and a long essay. The class was told that only the kids who were taking the tests had to do the homework.
Does this seems fair? Does it seem like the children who are taking the test are being punished? Other moms and I ( some with kids opting out, some with test takers) are surprised an assignment like this was given.
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Posted 3/28/16 10:51 AM  |
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stinger
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 4971 total posts
Name:
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Re: Extra test prep homework for test takers?
Posted by mema2012
My 5th grade DD will be taking the state tests this year. We opted her out in 3rd grade, she actually wanted to take the tests last year and did fine.
About a week or two ago, her teachers began doing "test prep". Last week, she came home with a thick packets of ELA and math prep...basically tests from the past. The ELA portion consists of several reading passages, 5 or 6 short essays and a long essay. The class was told that only the kids who were taking the tests had to do the homework.
Does this seems fair? Does it seem like the children who are taking the test are being punished? Other moms and I ( some with kids opting out, some with test takers) are surprised an assignment like this was given.
I have a 5th grader too. I would certainly call the teacher for clarification. I do not think they should be coming home with work like that. I would not make her do all that extra work and tell the teacher you feel that way.
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| Posted 3/28/16 11:01 AM |
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Re: Extra test prep homework for test takers?
My DS school does it differently, they have extra help after school Thursday and Friday to prep for the tests.
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| Posted 3/28/16 11:11 AM |
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Extra test prep homework for test takers?
That doesn't seem fair. It seems like the teacher is encouraging you to opt out with the extra homework and trying to show you what the test questions are like.
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| Posted 3/28/16 11:22 AM |
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Extra test prep homework for test takers?
It does not seem fair to me. As a teacher I gave the exams before the opt out movement but if I was still teaching the kids opting out would still get the homework. It would not be fair to kids to get extra homework. And while I am not familiar with the content of the current exams, the old tests did address skills all kids would need so there would be relevance for all.
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| Posted 3/28/16 12:14 PM |
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Adri
Joy!
Member since 5/05 3116 total posts
Name:
A
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Re: Extra test prep homework for test takers?
DS is in 5th grade as well, and they are not getting any prep. I think it is unfair, specially the amount of homework and so close to the tests. It seems like they didn't plan at all and now they want to do everything at the last minute.
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| Posted 3/28/16 2:25 PM |
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PatsBrat
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 2326 total posts
Name:
Ms. Brat
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Re: Extra test prep homework for test takers?
My kids don't take the tests and if they have test prep HW they dont do it and I send in a note. Maybe the teacher is trying to avoid that.
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| Posted 3/28/16 4:01 PM |
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Chatham-Chick
*********************
Member since 5/05 10311 total posts
Name:
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Re: Extra test prep homework for test takers?
My 4th grader gets test prep as homework and has in past years as well and I have her complete it despite us opting her out of the assessments.
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| Posted 3/28/16 4:41 PM |
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KarenK122
The Journey is the Destination
Member since 5/05 4431 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Extra test prep homework for test takers?
This really enrages me. Whether or not your child is taking the test is up to each family but there should never be any test prep sent home. That completely negates the entire reason why they are claiming they are giving the test to begin with. The tests are suppose to show what is being taught in class and how the children are retaining it. Giving children extra work in order to prepare is ludicrous. One of the points of common core is that any child anywhere can learn this information in any school district. If districts are sending home packets and doing after school test preps is its not the same across all playing fields. Even if my child was taking the tests she would not be doing any extra homework. Unless the homework is directly related to what they are learning in class then it is useless.
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| Posted 3/28/16 6:39 PM |
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Lauren82
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 4580 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Extra test prep homework for test takers?
I'm an opt-outer, so maybe my view is skewed, but this would make me angry! It makes taking the test seem like a punishment...I also don't believe in test prep and thankfully neither does my district!
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| Posted 3/28/16 8:34 PM |
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my3bugs
Mom of 2 Boys
Member since 5/05 4381 total posts
Name:
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Re: Extra test prep homework for test takers?
hmmm...maybe the story is skewed? My kids are test takers and I would not be happy that they get extra work because they are taken the test. The class should be taught as a whole not opt out vs test takers. Could it be that parents have requested it not be sent home or something of that nature and the story didn't translate?
I have children in 5th and 3rd grades both who are taking the tests and they don't get any special test prep homework at all. How would the teacher even know who is taking the test...are they asking the kids? Because this is a parent decision not a child decision. know plenty of people who still haven't sent in their letters to opt out.
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| Posted 3/28/16 9:30 PM |
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itsagoodlife
LIF Adolescent
Member since 8/15 619 total posts
Name:
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Re: Extra test prep homework for test takers?
We opt out here. Any and all homework that comes home in the form of a "practice" test or as "test prep" goes back to school not completed (with the blessing of their teachers AND principal who also do not agree with the testing climate and agree with and support the opt out movement but who are doing their jobs by offering the test and handing out the homework)
The tests are "supposed" to align to the curriculum but they don't.
I am a teacher. My children will NEVER participate in these exams that do not show AT ALL what they are learning in the classroom and are not accurate indicators of how amazing their teachers are.
Message edited 3/29/2016 12:51:17 PM.
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| Posted 3/29/16 12:50 PM |
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