Comments on: TAKS Kills Braincells http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/taks-kills-braincells/ Just another Edublogs.org weblog Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:19:45 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: “Every student can learn, just not on the same day, or the same way.” George Evans | Comments… http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/taks-kills-braincells/comment-page-1/#comment-19 “Every student can learn, just not on the same day, or the same way.” George Evans | Comments… Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:15:48 +0000 http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/taks-kills-braincells/#comment-19 [...]  Jonathon [...] [...]  Jonathon [...]

]]> By: » Comments Post Where’s The Cap? http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/taks-kills-braincells/comment-page-1/#comment-14 » Comments Post Where’s The Cap? Mon, 03 Dec 2007 01:16:44 +0000 http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/taks-kills-braincells/#comment-14 [...] http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/taks-kills-braincells/ [...] [...] http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/taks-kills-braincells/ [...]

]]> By: Do Not Point At The Creature… » Blog Archive » Here’s what I think about all of you! http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/taks-kills-braincells/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Do Not Point At The Creature… » Blog Archive » Here’s what I think about all of you! Tue, 13 Nov 2007 22:28:57 +0000 http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/taks-kills-braincells/#comment-12 [...] TAKS  http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/taks-kills-braincells/#comment-10 [...] [...] TAKS  http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/taks-kills-braincells/#comment-10 [...]

]]> By: Walter http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/taks-kills-braincells/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Walter Mon, 05 Nov 2007 16:22:29 +0000 http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/taks-kills-braincells/#comment-11 When I read your post, I kept thinking about what was written on the U.S. Department of Education’s website as it addressed concerns of NCLB: “Students will need no special test preparation to do well.” Clearly, something has gone horribly wrong. Even if the government’s assertion is true--in which case they’re being awfully nonchalant about something which so directly, and perhaps in an unforgiving manner, impacts schools--it seems that teachers and administrators have decided not to believe it. When so much depends on one thing, and the messages you receive are somewhat mixed, you’re liable to feel a little uneasy. Maybe this is what is happening. Avian influenza, NCLB, some bearded guy on the History Channel last week saying he knows the exact date of the apocolypse, all very disturbing on some level. The Bird flu, however, seems to have faded, with MSRA becoming the new superbug/virus of the week. And ever since Santa broke my heart, I’ve been wary of old bearded people talking of fantastical things. NCLB, though, lingers. Can NCLB be implemented more effectively? It appears so. Is it too late? Maybe. People don’t seem to believe in it anymore. It sort of feels like NCLB is becoming just another one of those things the Bush administration hopes history will eventually judge in its favor, which makes it a part of a long and growing list of things the government seems only able to wish will ultimately . . . finally . . . by the grace of God . . . turn out at least halfway decent. When I read your post, I kept thinking about what was written on the U.S. Department of Education’s website as it addressed concerns of NCLB: “Students will need no special test preparation to do well.”

Clearly, something has gone horribly wrong.

Even if the government’s assertion is true–in which case they’re being awfully nonchalant about something which so directly, and perhaps in an unforgiving manner, impacts schools–it seems that teachers and administrators have decided not to believe it. When so much depends on one thing, and the messages you receive are somewhat mixed, you’re liable to feel a little uneasy. Maybe this is what is happening. Avian influenza, NCLB, some bearded guy on the History Channel last week saying he knows the exact date of the apocolypse, all very disturbing on some level. The Bird flu, however, seems to have faded, with MSRA becoming the new superbug/virus of the week. And ever since Santa broke my heart, I’ve been wary of old bearded people talking of fantastical things. NCLB, though, lingers.

Can NCLB be implemented more effectively? It appears so. Is it too late? Maybe. People don’t seem to believe in it anymore. It sort of feels like NCLB is becoming just another one of those things the Bush administration hopes history will eventually judge in its favor, which makes it a part of a long and growing list of things the government seems only able to wish will ultimately . . . finally . . . by the grace of God . . . turn out at least halfway decent.

]]> By: Eli http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/taks-kills-braincells/comment-page-1/#comment-10 Eli Fri, 02 Nov 2007 20:28:46 +0000 http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/taks-kills-braincells/#comment-10 Maybe I'm betraying some ignorance of what exactly is going on with these standardized tests, but I'm going go on with what I want to say anyway. Why are these teachers spending so much time "Teaching for the Test"? I know that the students are required to take them, but does that mean that teachers have to teach them to write exactly like they should on the test? If the teachers teach the students to write, then they should do ok on the test. Perhaps a little more needs to be done, like spending a class (shortly before the test) explaining just what the test is looking for and then be done with it. If the teachers simply teach their students to write and to write well, then their students will fair quite well on a MEAP-style test. Just because you have to teach students in a way that (hopefully) ensures success on a test doesn't mean you have to teach to the test, per-se. And this goes for all subjects not just writing. Teaching the students the skills and information they need to succeed on a standardized test doesn't mean running through just the information touched on by the test. You can teach creatively and meaningfully while also preparing students for a test. Is standardized testing the best thing in the world, I would say definitely not. But instead of just bitching about it all the time, we can think of creative ways to prepare the students for these tests until a better means of assessment is introduced (which I hope it will be). I guess the point of this comment is to say that you can teach effectively and meaningfully while simultaneously preparing students for some crummy test they're forced to take. Maybe I’m betraying some ignorance of what exactly is going on with these standardized tests, but I’m going go on with what I want to say anyway. Why are these teachers spending so much time “Teaching for the Test”? I know that the students are required to take them, but does that mean that teachers have to teach them to write exactly like they should on the test? If the teachers teach the students to write, then they should do ok on the test. Perhaps a little more needs to be done, like spending a class (shortly before the test) explaining just what the test is looking for and then be done with it. If the teachers simply teach their students to write and to write well, then their students will fair quite well on a MEAP-style test. Just because you have to teach students in a way that (hopefully) ensures success on a test doesn’t mean you have to teach to the test, per-se. And this goes for all subjects not just writing. Teaching the students the skills and information they need to succeed on a standardized test doesn’t mean running through just the information touched on by the test. You can teach creatively and meaningfully while also preparing students for a test. Is standardized testing the best thing in the world, I would say definitely not. But instead of just bitching about it all the time, we can think of creative ways to prepare the students for these tests until a better means of assessment is introduced (which I hope it will be). I guess the point of this comment is to say that you can teach effectively and meaningfully while simultaneously preparing students for some crummy test they’re forced to take.

]]> By: “Every student can learn, just not on the same day, or the same way.” George Evans | An attempt at critical pedagogy http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/taks-kills-braincells/comment-page-1/#comment-9 “Every student can learn, just not on the same day, or the same way.” George Evans | An attempt at critical pedagogy Tue, 23 Oct 2007 19:11:41 +0000 http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/taks-kills-braincells/#comment-9 [...] Here are my 3 replies:  Jonathon, Michael, [...] [...] Here are my 3 replies:  Jonathon, Michael, [...]

]]> By: Carrie Kirgis http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/taks-kills-braincells/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Carrie Kirgis Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:32:42 +0000 http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/taks-kills-braincells/#comment-8 You say that you’re not going to want to teach your students to write the MEAPs because they have better things to learn. I couldn’t agree with you more, but do we really have a choice. If we want our students to score well on these tests, then we almost have to teach them how to do well on them. Even if the only reason we want them to do well is so that we will not be “failing” teachers at “failing” schools. This is so frustrating to me. Why should teachers be forced to waste valuable classroom time to teach students how to take the MEAP, and then take a week out of class to actually take the test? This test that is sooo important. How is it important for a student to be able to write a “good” five paragraph essay on a topic that he/she knows nothing about? Is this really helping them in life? Wouldn’t we be better off, as educators, teaching and assessing each student individually according to their needs and skill level? Does standardized testing really even tell us anything about their level of knowledge/education? Wouldn’t this wasted time be better spent actually learning something of real importance? Isn’t that what school is supposed to be all about? I thought so. You say that you’re not going to want to teach your students to write the MEAPs because they have better things to learn. I couldn’t agree with you more, but do we really have a choice. If we want our students to score well on these tests, then we almost have to teach them how to do well on them. Even if the only reason we want them to do well is so that we will not be “failing” teachers at “failing” schools.

This is so frustrating to me. Why should teachers be forced to waste valuable classroom time to teach students how to take the MEAP, and then take a week out of class to actually take the test? This test that is sooo important. How is it important for a student to be able to write a “good” five paragraph essay on a topic that he/she knows nothing about? Is this really helping them in life? Wouldn’t we be better off, as educators, teaching and assessing each student individually according to their needs and skill level? Does standardized testing really even tell us anything about their level of knowledge/education? Wouldn’t this wasted time be better spent actually learning something of real importance? Isn’t that what school is supposed to be all about? I thought so.

]]> By: Ashley W http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/taks-kills-braincells/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Ashley W Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:29:35 +0000 http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/taks-kills-braincells/#comment-6 I think it is wonderful how you related your article to a real life experience and gave some real feedback from an actual student going through this dumbing-down process. I feel that this article raises a very interesting point, we as students know what it is like to take these horribly dull and many times, meaningless tests. It is interesting to have teachers finally come out and say how they really feel about having to teach down to these standardized tests. "TAKS kills brain cells" is a very bold and frank way to put it, but maybe that's what school boards and legislatures need to hear. Even teachers think these tests are worthless in acurately displaying a student's abilities. Take for instance you cousin, should she have to spend weeks reviewing something she could do with her eyes closed just because the government feels like it needs to know how she's doing in school? Have you read Walter's recent article about 5th and 6th grade students having to re-take the MEAP writing section because one of the potential writing prompts was leaked in a newspaper? You should check it out! It's unbelievable that so much of what students have to concentrate on is standardized testing...that proves what?? I think it is wonderful how you related your article to a real life experience and gave some real feedback from an actual student going through this dumbing-down process.
I feel that this article raises a very interesting point, we as students know what it is like to take these horribly dull and many times, meaningless tests. It is interesting to have teachers finally come out and say how they really feel about having to teach down to these standardized tests. “TAKS kills brain cells” is a very bold and frank way to put it, but maybe that’s what school boards and legislatures need to hear. Even teachers think these tests are worthless in acurately displaying a student’s abilities.
Take for instance you cousin, should she have to spend weeks reviewing something she could do with her eyes closed just because the government feels like it needs to know how she’s doing in school?
Have you read Walter’s recent article about 5th and 6th grade students having to re-take the MEAP writing section because one of the potential writing prompts was leaked in a newspaper? You should check it out! It’s unbelievable that so much of what students have to concentrate on is standardized testing…that proves what??

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