As a first year history teacher, I really wanted to make sure my students were well prepared for this OK state test. I made sure to cover all the material again and have them read over the required documents/speeches. I was frustrated to learn that basically, it was a reading test! They were given a passage to read, then answer an accompanying question to check for understanding.
I lost 2 weeks to prep and 2 MONTHS of class time. It is still April and my students have already figured out we are finished with the textbook. Luckily I have projects planned, but school isn't out until June 2nd.
The problem is we are forced to cram material into a smaller time frame, and they are not correctly tested on that material. I had to cut out ALL the enrichment activities I wanted to do just to make it fit. I had no time for simulations, projects, or activities. Sure I squeezed in a couple, but overall, I was unable to really connect the students to the material for the sake of time. The list of topics I was given that they should know was 3 pages long. How can I accurately cover all the new material in the span on 1.25 semesters?
Testing needs to be changed, at least in the state of Oklahoma. While the change to a new testing company was a vast improvement, the state testing does not do what it is supposed to do. In Oklahoma, you have to pass 4/6 tests to graduate. I understand the rationale, but why force students into high stakes testing if some of them do not count? They must pass English and Algebra, but giving them the option to pass the others or not makes them question why they should try. Some students already passed three and felt confident in another, so they do not try. They don't feel accountable for their test, yet I am held accountable.
What are your thoughts?
What frustrations do you have with your testing? Or are you happy with it? What is your opinion on the topics I mentioned?
I lost 2 weeks to prep and 2 MONTHS of class time. It is still April and my students have already figured out we are finished with the textbook. Luckily I have projects planned, but school isn't out until June 2nd.
The problem is we are forced to cram material into a smaller time frame, and they are not correctly tested on that material. I had to cut out ALL the enrichment activities I wanted to do just to make it fit. I had no time for simulations, projects, or activities. Sure I squeezed in a couple, but overall, I was unable to really connect the students to the material for the sake of time. The list of topics I was given that they should know was 3 pages long. How can I accurately cover all the new material in the span on 1.25 semesters?
Testing needs to be changed, at least in the state of Oklahoma. While the change to a new testing company was a vast improvement, the state testing does not do what it is supposed to do. In Oklahoma, you have to pass 4/6 tests to graduate. I understand the rationale, but why force students into high stakes testing if some of them do not count? They must pass English and Algebra, but giving them the option to pass the others or not makes them question why they should try. Some students already passed three and felt confident in another, so they do not try. They don't feel accountable for their test, yet I am held accountable.
What are your thoughts?
What frustrations do you have with your testing? Or are you happy with it? What is your opinion on the topics I mentioned?
