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pharmcat2000
Mom of 2 + 1
Member since 10/05 7395 total posts
Name:
Catherine
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Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
My daughter will not be taking the tests.
As a PP stated, and I agree, I am all-in for standard goals and competencies for all children, across the country. I am also all for removing teachers who are ineffective (we don't keep professionals in ANY line of work who can't do their jobs). What I am AGAINST is age-inappropriate lessons, questions and testing; data-mining from tests on my 8 year old; and the government (their agents) determining what my child should learn, based on the above-mentioned tests and data-mining. THAT is why I opted for her to abstain from the tests.
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Posted 4/4/15 3:05 AM  |
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Christine2
LIF Adult
Member since 2/09 1217 total posts
Name:
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Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Honestly, how many of these posts are written by teachers? In my eyes, it seems they feel threatened by being rated based on their student's test scores. I get tested every single day in my line of work.
Don't we want to push our children and future generations to be better than what we are now? It is a double edged sword. If the teachers weren't assessed based on the scores, the students wouldn't be pushed to do better. I think if we expect more from the kids, we might actually get it.
Message edited 4/5/2015 10:56:17 AM.
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| Posted 4/5/15 10:54 AM |
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PatsBrat
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 2326 total posts
Name:
Ms. Brat
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Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by Christine2
Honestly, how many of these posts are written by teachers? In my eyes, it seems they feel threatened by being rated based on their student's test scores. I get tested every single day in my line of work.
Don't we want to push our children and future generations to be better than what we are now? It is a double edged sword. If the teachers weren't assessed based on the scores, the students wouldn't be pushed to do better. I think if we expect more from the kids, we might actually get it.
Perhaps you should do some research. Or speak to the parent of a special needs child.
Message edited 4/5/2015 12:20:46 PM.
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| Posted 4/5/15 12:20 PM |
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Teachergal
We made a snowman!
Member since 1/08 3239 total posts
Name:
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Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by Christine2
Honestly, how many of these posts are written by teachers? In my eyes, it seems they feel threatened by being rated based on their student's test scores. I get tested every single day in my line of work.
Don't we want to push our children and future generations to be better than what we are now? It is a double edged sword. If the teachers weren't assessed based on the scores, the students wouldn't be pushed to do better. I think if we expect more from the kids, we might actually get it.
I'm not being snarky, but have you viewed the released passages and questions? They are developmentally inappropriate. Teachers aren't against testing. We are against THESE tests. Big difference.
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| Posted 4/5/15 12:40 PM |
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KarenK122
The Journey is the Destination
Member since 5/05 4431 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by Christine2
Honestly, how many of these posts are written by teachers? In my eyes, it seems they feel threatened by being rated based on their student's test scores. I get tested every single day in my line of work.
Don't we want to push our children and future generations to be better than what we are now? It is a double edged sword. If the teachers weren't assessed based on the scores, the students wouldn't be pushed to do better. I think if we expect more from the kids, we might actually get it.
I do agree with part of what you are saying. Teachers need to be evaluated fairly and need to held accountable to teaching the curriculum for the year. Ineffective teachers should be able to be fired regardless of tenure. But the difference comes in with that I believe these evaluations should be coming from the school district and not the State.
The State has no idea what teachers do on a daily basis. The district does. The State will not know or care if a teacher has a class with 10 children that have IEPs so their year end progress does not exceed expectations. The State will also not know if the class is comprised of high level learners so their test results will show no progress as they were a the top level the year before. The State has no idea if a teacher has spent every morning or afternoon on their own time helping students with this crazy new math. They will not know that one of my teachers rode the bus with my daughter for weeks because she was afraid. The State wants one developmentally inappropriate test be the deciding factor on if the teacher is effective. I find that BS.
Students need to be tested but sometimes there needs to be modifications not every student is the same. The State is not allowing this to be done. If Cuomo keeps going on his attack against the school systems, there will be no "fun" things in school left, no enrichment classes, no projects, no science or social studies and no arts. The kids will be learning ELA and math for the 6 hours they are in school. This does not make a well rounded child. Also, while teaches may say they will never do this, but what teacher will want a special needs child or a gifted child in their class if it will bring down their progress evaluations. This is going to lead to extreme segregation in the children while we are all trying for inclusion for all children.
Long story short, I do not disagree with some forms of testing but one test from a government should not be the major factor in deciding how our schools are run especially when he is making it so cut and dry.
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| Posted 4/5/15 12:58 PM |
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My2Girlz11
LIF Adolescent
Member since 1/11 785 total posts
Name:
Corrie
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Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by Christine2
Honestly, how many of these posts are written by teachers? In my eyes, it seems they feel threatened by being rated based on their student's test scores. I get tested every single day in my line of work.
Don't we want to push our children and future generations to be better than what we are now? It is a double edged sword. If the teachers weren't assessed based on the scores, the students wouldn't be pushed to do better. I think if we expect more from the kids, we might actually get it.
When more than 50 percent of the state is failing these tests you have to start questioning if the test are developmentally appropriate. They are not. As j have mentioned on here before, I gave my students last week a practice test from 2008 that was two grade levels above the grade they are in now. The test was a lot easier and the questions were more straightforward. Go to EngageNY and look at past tests and compare them. This is what teachers are outraged about. The common core standards states that 5th graders should read passages on a fifth to forth grade complexity level. Then why on the state test does it go up to grade 7.3??? There is another agenda going on. I don't care if we test, but test on the students ability level. You can not see real growth in my special education students giving them a test extremely above their level. It only measures certain standards and not prerequisites that the students didn't have coming into the grade. An example that is the easiest one to explain is having a student come in sept not being able to multiply two digit by two digit numbers. Now that student can, but the fifth grade standards has them multiplying 4 digit to three digit numbers so that is what the test will be measuring. So you will never know that the student actually did learn something.
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| Posted 4/5/15 1:10 PM |
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cj7305
=)
Member since 8/05 12296 total posts
Name:
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Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by Christine2
Honestly, how many of these posts are written by teachers? In my eyes, it seems they feel threatened by being rated based on their student's test scores. I get tested every single day in my line of work.
Don't we want to push our children and future generations to be better than what we are now? It is a double edged sword. If the teachers weren't assessed based on the scores, the students wouldn't be pushed to do better. I think if we expect more from the kids, we might actually get it.
Yes, I am a teacher and yes I absolutely am threatened by being rated on these tests. I'm tired of people saying that teachers are just mad because they are getting evaluated. That is ridiculous. I along with every teacher I know have no problem with being evaluated, or with testing (we give our own all the time) but if you saw these tests, saw the children in the classroom being prepped, saw the struggle and confusion on which is the "better" answer, there is no way you would feel what is going on is right. And again, having high standards or expectations is one thing but asking a 3rd grader to read a 6th, 7th grade reading passage and answer ambiguous questions is something entirely different. We were literally told during the insane roll out of the new common core aligned tests that 70% OF OUR STUDENTS WILL FAIL. Now they want to take the scores of these tests and judge us based on those? That is insane. Have a stranger, who knows nothing about me or my students come into my classroom one time and make a snap judgement on my abilities as a teacher is also nonsense. Give them the power to come up with 35% of my score while my own principal who knows what I do on a daily basis gets to give me 15% of my score? Come on, does this really seem like a fair plan to you? 
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| Posted 4/5/15 7:30 PM |
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CallaLily
Thank you, Saint Gerard!
Member since 10/07 4937 total posts
Name:
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Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by cj7305
Posted by Christine2
Honestly, how many of these posts are written by teachers? In my eyes, it seems they feel threatened by being rated based on their student's test scores. I get tested every single day in my line of work.
Don't we want to push our children and future generations to be better than what we are now? It is a double edged sword. If the teachers weren't assessed based on the scores, the students wouldn't be pushed to do better. I think if we expect more from the kids, we might actually get it.
Yes, I am a teacher and yes I absolutely am threatened by being rated on these tests. I'm tired of people saying that teachers are just mad because they are getting evaluated. That is ridiculous. I along with every teacher I know have no problem with being evaluated, or with testing (we give our own all the time) but if you saw these tests, saw the children in the classroom being prepped, saw the struggle and confusion on which is the "better" answer, there is no way you would feel what is going on is right. And again, having high standards or expectations is one thing but asking a 3rd grader to read a 6th, 7th grade reading passage and answer ambiguous questions is something entirely different. We were literally told during the insane roll out of the new common core aligned tests that 70% OF OUR STUDENTS WILL FAIL. Now they want to take the scores of these tests and judge us based on those? That is insane. Have a stranger, who knows nothing about me or my students come into my classroom one time and make a snap judgement on my abilities as a teacher is also nonsense. Give them the power to come up with 35% of my score while my own principal who knows what I do on a daily basis gets to give me 15% of my score? Come on, does this really seem like a fair plan to you?
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| Posted 4/5/15 10:44 PM |
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twicethefun
Loving life
Member since 7/06 4088 total posts
Name:
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Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by Christine2
Honestly, how many of these posts are written by teachers? In my eyes, it seems they feel threatened by being rated based on their student's test scores. I get tested every single day in my line of work.
Don't we want to push our children and future generations to be better than what we are now? It is a double edged sword. If the teachers weren't assessed based on the scores, the students wouldn't be pushed to do better. I think if we expect more from the kids, we might actually get it.
The key is you get tested. Do you train someone who then gets tested and your rating depends on it? Do you have some trainees with 30-40 days absent this year? That are late everyday? Come dirty with the same dirty clothes as yesterday that might have other problems on their minds?Or how about trainees that don't care about the job? Or ones that care but don't have a good grasp of English? Or ones whose mom and dad had a huge fight the night before the test and may have even involved police? Or maybe they were just feeling sick the day of the test? Or maybe they don't have the prerequisite skills to do the job but your boss says they have to know it in a month and you get no time to teach the prior necessary skills? Do you have trainees like that? Tell me about their text scores and if you want to be rated on them?
I am a teacher. I have pressure to perform and to make 25 other human beings perform everyday. Test me on my skills. Test my students who try to learn and show up everyday on their skills. In fact test the ones who are mentioned above who don't or can't try on their skills and you will see growth. Fact is with this NYS test you might not see the growth because the test is not the same every year, but instead it is harder. If I have a student with a perfect score in 3rd grade I can not possibly show growth in 4th grade. It doesn't mean they didn't learn or that I am ineffective it means the test was ineffective.
No one in my building wants to teach testing grades anymore. We are changing our class structure so we can be more fair to teachers. Is this best for the children? If children are missing the prerequisite skills do you want your child's teacher to start back where the child is at and patiently meet your child's need , or to feel rushed to get through them so they can prepare them to take the test? In this scenario it makes sense for a teacher to spend the most time with the students who have the most potential to improve on the test. Is that wise? Who is this helping?
Message edited 4/6/2015 8:10:03 AM.
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| Posted 4/6/15 7:55 AM |
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ggt08
;)
Member since 5/05 5208 total posts
Name:
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Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Teachers like myself have been voicing our opinions since this whole common core standards issue tied to state tests tied to evaluations began. Many people are just beginning to listen.
I have NO problem being evaluated- I am evaluated at length by my principal using the Danielson Rubric- never heard of it? look it up guarantee no one in any field is evaluated like that.
But to be evaluated on a test so flawed, so skewed, created by big wig corporations. 2-4 years above kids reading level. Its a set up for failure.
They are using YOUR kids as a pawn in all of this.
did you know the state changes the cut score after results are in? and your child could get a high 3 one year a low 3 the next and they did NOT show growth according to the state even though they got a 3 and that is passing.
I gave the test today. I cannot discuss the content but my goodness the questions. :(
All year I taught and what showed up on the test was not what I focused on. the stress my poor kiddies, YOUR children went though today was enough to bring me to tears at lunch.
PLEASE PLEASE research the facts, attend forums, go on facebook- Long Island Opt Out, Lace to the Top- great pages with a wealth of information. Before you judge teachers like me, EDUCATE yourself completely on what is happening in public ed. follow the money trail.
I could say so much more but I am exhausted.... it takes a toll on the teachers as well. We are not the bad guys here and were certainly not doing it to save face and our jobs. We could comply, shut our mouths and do what were told. But were not wired that way. When something is so wrong, thousands of us are saying this is wrong, something is WRONG...
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| Posted 4/14/15 3:06 PM |
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2boys1girl
and one more girl on the way!
Member since 5/10 2954 total posts
Name:
D
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If your child is in a testing grade...
Day 1 of Testing and both my boys brought a back pack full of reading material in!
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| Posted 4/14/15 3:33 PM |
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chanmar
LIF Adolescent
Member since 7/07 499 total posts
Name:
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Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
My kids will and did take the test and just do the best they can, no pressure on them at all.
Message edited 4/15/2015 6:58:12 AM.
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| Posted 4/15/15 6:40 AM |
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Adri
Joy!
Member since 5/05 3116 total posts
Name:
A
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Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
DS is taking the tests. Last year, when in 3rd grade, he was stressed mainly because he didn't know what to expect… and he did very well. This year he is not stressed at all. No pressure on the results, only I want him to know what testing is, and get ready for the future tests he will have to experience.
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| Posted 4/15/15 8:25 PM |
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MrsGmomof3
...
Member since 6/08 3290 total posts
Name:
Irrelevant
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Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
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!
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| Posted 4/16/15 11:05 AM |
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ggt08
;)
Member since 5/05 5208 total posts
Name:
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Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by Adri
DS is taking the tests. Last year, when in 3rd grade, he was stressed mainly because he didn't know what to expect… and he did very well. This year he is not stressed at all. No pressure on the results, only I want him to know what testing is, and get ready for the future tests he will have to experience.
I teach 3rd Grade and it was a nightmare for all students. 4th and 5th grade were just as bad. Hardest of the 3 years of common core. One passage on 4th grade was on a reading level of 6.3 ( 6th grade, 3rd month) None of these tests will prepare him for the future tests. This is line nothing I have ever seen and I have been at this for 18 years.
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| Posted 4/16/15 4:04 PM |
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ggt08
;)
Member since 5/05 5208 total posts
Name:
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Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by chanmar
My kids will and did take the test and just do the best they can, no pressure on them at all.
even the kids who have no pressure felt pressure with this years test. So many kids, bright kids, did not finish because they were thoughtful and methodical in their answering of the questions. this was the worst of the 3 years of CC testing.
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| Posted 4/16/15 4:05 PM |
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ggt08
;)
Member since 5/05 5208 total posts
Name:
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If your child is in a testing grade...
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.
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| Posted 4/16/15 4:14 PM |
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Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by ggt08
Posted by chanmar
My kids will and did take the test and just do the best they can, no pressure on them at all.
even the kids who have no pressure felt pressure with this years test. So many kids, bright kids, did not finish because they were thoughtful and methodical in their answering of the questions. this was the worst of the 3 years of CC testing.
My child feels absolutely NO pressure and has told me this. I was told that it was easy and didn't take more than the 2 hours needed.
Message edited 4/16/2015 4:22:08 PM.
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| Posted 4/16/15 4:21 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by afternoondelight828
Posted by ggt08
Posted by chanmar
My kids will and did take the test and just do the best they can, no pressure on them at all.
even the kids who have no pressure felt pressure with this years test. So many kids, bright kids, did not finish because they were thoughtful and methodical in their answering of the questions. this was the worst of the 3 years of CC testing.
My child feels absolutely NO pressure and has told me this. I was told that it was easy and didn't take more than the 2 hours needed.
Your child is older correct?
" 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. "
That is inappropriate for 3rd grade. Your child is not in 3rd grade, 4th, or even 5th, so perhaps the higher grades are less confusing and more developmentally appropriate than the lower.
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| Posted 4/16/15 4:33 PM |
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Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by BargainMama
Posted by afternoondelight828
Posted by ggt08
Posted by chanmar
My kids will and did take the test and just do the best they can, no pressure on them at all.
even the kids who have no pressure felt pressure with this years test. So many kids, bright kids, did not finish because they were thoughtful and methodical in their answering of the questions. this was the worst of the 3 years of CC testing.
My child feels absolutely NO pressure and has told me this. I was told that it was easy and didn't take more than the 2 hours needed.
Your child is older correct?
" 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. "
That is inappropriate for 3rd grade. Your child is not in 3rd grade, 4th, or even 5th, so perhaps the higher grades are less confusing and more developmentally appropriate than the lower.
Yes, you are correct so I am thinking maybe that is why.
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| Posted 4/16/15 4:42 PM |
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ggt08
;)
Member since 5/05 5208 total posts
Name:
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Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by afternoondelight828
Posted by ggt08
Posted by chanmar
My kids will and did take the test and just do the best they can, no pressure on them at all.
even the kids who have no pressure felt pressure with this years test. So many kids, bright kids, did not finish because they were thoughtful and methodical in their answering of the questions. this was the worst of the 3 years of CC testing.
My child feels absolutely NO pressure and has told me this. I was told that it was easy and didn't take more than the 2 hours needed.
That's great that your child thought it was easy and did not feel any pressure.
But the majority of children did feel the pressure, all intelligence spectrums, they ran out of time, they cried. I teach the younger ones- 3rd Grade- first time taking test- so its worse for them. Yesterday they had to read 3 passages, write 5 short response paragraphs and an essay in 70 min- many ran out of time.
There are a few students that can handle the high pressure test but many can not.
And for what?
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| Posted 4/17/15 8:41 AM |
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ggt08
;)
Member since 5/05 5208 total posts
Name:
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If your child is in a testing grade...
BUMP
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| Posted 4/17/15 8:42 AM |
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busymomonli
Resident Insomniac
Member since 4/13 2050 total posts
Name:
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Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
I saw this on Facebook yesterday. Its a teachers opinion of a portion of a sixth grade ELA exam. There's no way my sixth grade son would know these words. I am so glad we refused.
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| Posted 4/17/15 8:57 AM |
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Re: If your child is in a testing grade...
Posted by ggt08
Posted by afternoondelight828
Posted by ggt08
Posted by chanmar
My kids will and did take the test and just do the best they can, no pressure on them at all.
even the kids who have no pressure felt pressure with this years test. So many kids, bright kids, did not finish because they were thoughtful and methodical in their answering of the questions. this was the worst of the 3 years of CC testing.
My child feels absolutely NO pressure and has told me this. I was told that it was easy and didn't take more than the 2 hours needed.
That's great that your child thought it was easy and did not feel any pressure.
But the majority of children did feel the pressure, all intelligence spectrums, they ran out of time, they cried. I teach the younger ones- 3rd Grade- first time taking test- so its worse for them. Yesterday they had to read 3 passages, write 5 short response paragraphs and an essay in 70 min- many ran out of time.
There are a few students that can handle the high pressure test but many can not.
And for what?
The more you talk about it with and around the kids, the more they get stressed.
I don't agree with the tests but it is so out there now that there is NO way that these kids don't hear about it, especially from parents who are talking about it all the time.
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| Posted 4/17/15 10:23 AM |
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My2Girlz11
LIF Adolescent
Member since 1/11 785 total posts
Name:
Corrie
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If your child is in a testing grade...
I heard the 3rd and 4th grade test were 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 not too 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.
Message edited 4/17/2015 4:24:39 PM.
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| Posted 4/17/15 3:40 PM |
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