In response to Ga. Moves Toward Fewer Tests for Students By The Associated Press
I’m so happy to see my state is doing something about all of the tests we are giving our students. It seems like we test more that we instruct, even though the data is supposed to drive the instruction. As a first grade teacher, I was glad to hear that first and second grade students were not taking the CRCT (Georgia’s Standardized Assessment) this year, but it seems that some counties can choose to pay and take the test. Supposedly, my county is one of them, if the funds are found.
I would like for superintendents and other school officials to realize that testing 6 and 7 years olds are not effective and a waste of money. Bob Schaeffer, public education director at The National Center for Fair & Open Testing, says "What you're measuring in many cases is whether kids can sit still," Though I have many students that do fairly well on standardized test, I don’t understand why they have to start so young. They will be tested throughout middle and high school and if they desire to go on to higher education they will continue to be tested there as well.
I think it is great that some are trying to give our students a break from so much testing, I just wish everyone would get on the bandwagon.
I feel so badly for these kids. Test anxiety in the 1st grade? Poor babies.
ReplyDeleteWow! Standardized testing in the 1st grade? That seems just crazy! Are you familiar with the MEAP test (Michigan's Standardized Test)? I'm wondering if your test is similar. We start this in the 3rd grade.
ReplyDeleteI do understand the need for data to drive instruction, but if the CRCT is anything like the MEAP, the data comes far too late to be helpful. In addition, there are very few resources that help us dig through the information that is provided.