Anyone else's kids refusing state tests?

[MSLRAC]

Heard from another parent whose 6th grader is already being subjected to Common Core testing. Class results? 23 out of 31 failed.

Why do you try to turn every single thread about school into a rant about CC? I think we all get that you hate it and are against it.

As for state testing, it's never been a blip on my radar. My kids do well with it and it's not a source of stress for them. Their teachers don't teach to the test and they spend very little time prepping for it. They actually have state tests next week and they will all be taking them.

 

[lan3]

In NYC, the test is tied to promotion. More importantly, in Manhattan, it is tied to middle school/high school choice. If you want the top middle schools or high schools, you have to take the test. There is so much pressure on 4th and 7th graders because their scores are used to determine school placement. These test scores really can impact the whole future for NYC kids who can not afford private school. The difference between the schools that the kids who gets 4s can go to and the schools for kids with 2s are night and day.

 

[delyrium]

I don't anticipate my kids having trouble with the tests, either (though they well may). We're in a high performing school district, and they're fairly privileged. I do think the focus on standardized testing in lower performing districts is a huge problem, though, and that the system should be overhauled.

 

[SLP958]

I remember taking these tests in school. To me, it is just a part of public education.

In one's educational career there will be many rules and things to do that seem stupid and silly. Many have no bearing on the outcome of life. Still, you just have to do them.

I don't want my kids to think they can just refuse to do things they don't like.

Life is about doing what you have to do, not what you want to do.

 

[jodifla]

Why do you try to turn every single thread about school into a rant about CC? I think we all get that you hate it and are against it.

As for state testing, it's never been a blip on my radar. My kids do well with it and it's not a source of stress for them. Their teachers don't teach to the test and they spend very little time prepping for it. They actually have state tests next week and they will all be taking them.

Currently, that is what is fueling the opt-out. It IS about Common Core, particularly in New York, which has had disastrous testing results because of the new standards the past few years.

And you are right, of course, I hate what Common Core is doing to so many children and teachers across the country. It's a disaster for kids like mine, because it puts a wall between him and any learning, and threatens to erase his progress. I imagine testing would be well more than a blip on your radar if you were in my family's shoes.

Just because it's not a problem for you and your kids -- yet, at least -- doesn't mean it won't be next year, when the state tests are gone and PARCC and Smarter Balanced are being used.

There is about 30 percent of the student population who learns well under Common Core, and if your kids are in this percentage, it may continue to not even be a blip on your radar.

To the rest of us, it is a big deal.

 

[SLP958]

I find everything about kindergarten insane right now. Used to be they taught you the ABC's and how to write them and spell your name etc. My daughter babysits a kindergarten boy after school and does his homework with him- she took a pic of his homework last week and sent it to me - "write down 10 items in your house and then write a 75-100 word story including all those items". That is not the kindergarten my daughter went to 9 years ago! And this was not a "advanced" class, its just a group of everyday students. I feel sorry for the kids that don't go to preschool and go into kindergarten not already knowing their ABC's and basic sight words!

Good grief! My son in in K and we do nothing like that. His homework consists of letters, letter sounds, numbers, sight words and decoding 3-4 letter words.

 

[MSLRAC]

Currently, that is what is fueling the opt-out. It IS about Common Core, particularly in New York, which has had disastrous testing results because of the new standards the past few years. And you are right, of course, I hate what Common Core is doing to so many children and teachers across the country. It's a disaster for kids like mine, because it puts a wall between him and any learning, and threatens to erase his progress. I imagine testing would be well more than a blip on your radar if you were in my family's shoes. Just because it's not a problem for you and your kids -- yet, at least -- doesn't mean it won't be next year, when the state tests are gone and PARCC and Smarter Balanced are being used. There is about 30 percent of the student population who learns well under Common Core, and if your kids are in this percentage, it may continue to not even be a blip on your radar. To the rest of us, it is a big deal.

CC is nothing more than a set of basic standards for all students in each grade level. How is that bad? And how does that have anything to do with how children learn? The problem is not CC...it's the curriculum being chosen and how it is being implemented by various school districts.

Our district is doing great with it and the students are thriving. They didn't buy one size fits all curriculum and then tell teachers that they can't deviate from it. They provided the teachers with various resources to pick and choose from and let them decide how to teacher each element of CC.

And I'm not one bit worried about CC testing with my kids and they certainly will not be opting out of it. Life is full of thing that we do not like but we can't just not do those things. That's not how our family functions. We face it, do our best, and adjust if need be to do better next time.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Any teacher whose job is tied to the results of these tests is doing test prep. Teaching to the test is becoming all too common. I know they hate it but their hands are tied.

I know, I'm just curious how it would work. We just really don't do test prep here.

 

[jodifla]

CC is nothing more than a set of basic standards for all students in each grade level. How is that bad? And how does that have anything to do with how children learn? The problem is not CC...it's the curriculum being chosen and how it is being implemented by various school districts.

Our district is doing great with it and the students are thriving. They didn't buy one size fits all curriculum and then tell teachers that they can't deviate from it. They provided the teachers with various resources to pick and choose from and let them decide how to teacher each element of CC.

And I'm not one bit worried about CC testing with my kids and they certainly will not be opting out of it. Life is full of thing that we do not like but we can't just not do those things. That's not how our family functions. We face it, do our best, and adjust if need be to do better next time.

Your district may have not bought a one-size-fits-all curriculum, which is great, but the testing IS one size fits all. In all the states that have rolled out the Common Core beta testing, the bulk of the students have failed, year after year. The opt-outs are strongest in the states where children have faced this testing.

CC standards demand a heavy emphasis on language. If your child has a language-based disability, as mine does, it immediately puts the curriculum out of reach. Now math, which was his strong suit, is trapped behind a curriculum that will fail you if you get the right answer if you can't answer who and why you got the answers in multiple sentences.

CC also demands that you are at grade level, even if you are not because of disability.

Next year, they will want to test my son for up to 20 hours with a test that is 5 years over his reading ability on items he has never been taught.

I do not plan to subject him to that.

Here's an article that explains more:

Common Core worrisome for special ed students
New standards may be 'overwhelming' for children with learning challenges

http://www.mv-voice.com/news/2014/02/18/common-core-worrisome-for-special-ed-students

Parents of children with learning challenges have reason to be concerned about the new national curriculum standards, known as Common Core, according to a pair of local special education officials.

"It's going to be a big problem that's going to lead to a lot of problems for a lot of kids," said Christine Case-Lo, co-founder of the Learning Challenges Committee, which functions a bit like a multi-school district PTA for special needs children.

...

Common Core tests will require many more written-out answers, which explain how a pupil arrived at an answer. Not only will test-takers be asked what but now they'll be asked how and why.

"For many of the children who have learning differences, getting to the answer is difficult enough," Ruthie Wunderling, a learning specialist, said. Now they will not only be asked to answer a math problem, but they'll be required to explain how they arrived at their answer with proper syntax, grammar and punctuation.

 

[MSLRAC]

Your district may have not bought a one-size-fits-all curriculum, which is great, but the testing IS one size fits all. In all the states that have rolled out the Common Core beta testing, the bulk of the students have failed, year after year. The opt-outs are strongest in the states where children have faced this testing. CC standards demand a heavy emphasis on language. If your child has a language-based disability, as mine does, it immediately puts the curriculum out of reach. Now math, which was his strong suit, is trapped behind a curriculum that will fail you if you get the right answer if you can't answer who and why you got the answers in multiple sentences. CC also demands that you are at grade level, even if you are not because of disability. Next year, they will want to test my son for up to 20 hours with a test that is 5 years over his reading ability on items he has never been taught. I do not plan to subject him to that. Here's an article that explains more: Common Core worrisome for special ed students New standards may be 'overwhelming' for children with learning challenges http://www.mv-voice.com/news/2014/02/18/common-core-worrisome-for-special-ed-students Parents of children with learning challenges have reason to be concerned about the new national curriculum standards, known as Common Core, according to a pair of local special education officials. "It's going to be a big problem that's going to lead to a lot of problems for a lot of kids," said Christine Case-Lo, co-founder of the Learning Challenges Committee, which functions a bit like a multi-school district PTA for special needs children. ... Common Core tests will require many more written-out answers, which explain how a pupil arrived at an answer. Not only will test-takers be asked what but now they'll be asked how and why. "For many of the children who have learning differences, getting to the answer is difficult enough," Ruthie Wunderling, a learning specialist, said. Now they will not only be asked to answer a math problem, but they'll be required to explain how they arrived at their answer with proper syntax, grammar and punctuation.

Sorry it's not working for your kid but I'm still not worried and I'm still not going to have my kids opt out of testing...even DS who has an IEP. The standards have been laid out, their teachers are teaching the material in accord with the standards, my kids are doing great with it, and I have no doubt that they will do well on the tests.

 

[Bluestars]

I am surprised that kids can opt out of testing. When I went to school, we had achievement tests and nobody opted out. When my kids went to school, they were tested every year and nobody opted out.

It seems like if all of the kids who think they will do poorly on the tests opted out, the results would be skewed. I don't understand why kids get the choice to opt out of anything in school. I would not have let my kids opt out even if they could.

 

[Poohforyou]

Dd is beyond the yearly testing but since she always did well and it never affected her grades I wouldn't opt. She will be taking the state biology test this year and then in junior year will take the high school proficiency test. Aside from ap tests that's it.

 

[sam_gordon]

Boy, I wish I had the choice to "opt out" of things at work because I disagreed with them.

Sent from my Kindle Fire using DISBoards

 

[mhfrau]

If you read the link I gave earlier on the FCAT, you will realize that you can opt out/refuse. You just have to show proof that your child has mastered the skills required. Your schools would NEVER tell you that.

I glanced through the link. And I'm not saying I don't think that there is some opt out thing that you could pursue, but honestly, I've got a son who is going to be a senior next year and I'm just counting down the days till he's done with the public education system. At this point, he's more focused on SATs and ACTs than to worry about FCAT and EOC tests.

So if they don't mean a stinking thing, why have your kids take them. Why not be a part of getting them eliminated from the schools so teachers can do what they do best-teach.

In the last 11 years, across 5 different states we've lived in, I fought my battles. I was actually quite militant about the whole standardized testing thing when my kid was in elementary school because he always did terrible on them. I feel like we've survived several different grand experiments from Everyday Math in Pennsylvania, which I think might be the most detrimental thing we can do to our kid's futures, to cultural diversity class in middle school in South Carolina (of all places!) where my kid had to demonstrate proficiency in making Salaat in front of his class. At this point, I'm done with battling big education. I'm more concerned with encouraging him to make wise college decisions so he doesn't end up in debt up to his eyeballs

 

[mnrose]

Boy, I wish I had the choice to "opt out" of things at work because I disagreed with them.

Sent from my Kindle Fire using DISBoards

Isn't that the truth? My DD loathes math (even though she is pretty good at it). She just hates it, and doesn't want to do her homework because it is "boring." I tell her all the time "there are many things in life that are BORING that you have to do anyway...laundry is boring, but I do it anyway."

Kids don't need a lesson in "opting out" of things they don't agree with. They need a lesson in persevering no matter what.

 

[ICF]

Kids don't need a lesson in "opting out" of things they don't agree with. They need a lesson in persevering no matter what.

Yep

 

[Help Please!]

To whomever compared standardized testing to an adult "opting out" of something they don't want to do at work...

You are an adult. You choose to work, choose your job, and make money.

Children are not in that category. They do not choose to spend hours each week taking standardized tests that are developmentally inappropriate, and entire classes of 5 and 6 year olds do not benefit from teachers spending multiple hours testing individually. What do you think the rest of the kids are doing all that time? Watching a video, color sheets, other unsupervised garbage? There is no need for that much testing in kindergarten.

For a few years I taught next to a 25+ year kindergarten teacher...AMAZING woman, whose former students (middle and high schoolers, adults) would come back just to see her. Her classroom was creative, she had fun activities that helped the kids use their imagination....everything from a leprechaun in the classroom (footprints and glitter all over, green toilet water ), to a performance of nursery rhymes in which every student had the opportunity to speak in front of a large crowd (SUPER confidence builder), to just the best pre-reading and learning activities. By the end of the year, her classes were always full of school-loving, musical, creative, energetic, well-rounded kids. She had centers that helped the kids develop the basic skills (sharing, taking turns, fairness, the golden rule, imagination) that made them successful people. I fear that we are getting so far away from this, that our little people are going to suffer.

 

[sk!mom]

So the same group against Common Core is launching another attack via the opt/out?

In many states school funding is tied to test results, so kids not taking the test impacts the school. Of all of the things to worry about in life, standardized testing would be nothing on my radar.

Agreed! Texas has had this testing climate for years now. As a teacher, I realize that it is a stress and struggle for many students but really it is a test of minimum standards. An average student should pass easily with no prep and an above average student will ace them. By middle and high school here, students in advanced classes do not spend any time on test prep or review They simply take the test on the appointed day. Those students in Pre AP and AP courses will report that the tests are ridiculously easy.

If a student struggles with the tests, you should be concerned with their progress.

As a teacher, I do not "teach to the test." I teach the curriculum for the grade level. Those students who are succeeding with grade level work will have no trouble passing.

 

[sets14]

Your district may have not bought a one-size-fits-all curriculum, which is great, but the testing IS one size fits all. In all the states that have rolled out the Common Core beta testing, the bulk of the students have failed, year after year. The opt-outs are strongest in the states where children have faced this testing.

CC standards demand a heavy emphasis on language. If your child has a language-based disability, as mine does, it immediately puts the curriculum out of reach. Now math, which was his strong suit, is trapped behind a curriculum that will fail you if you get the right answer if you can't answer who and why you got the answers in multiple sentences.

CC also demands that you are at grade level, even if you are not because of disability.

Next year, they will want to test my son for up to 20 hours with a test that is 5 years over his reading ability on items he has never been taught.

I do not plan to subject him to that.

Here's an article that explains more:

Common Core worrisome for special ed students
New standards may be 'overwhelming' for children with learning challenges

http://www.mv-voice.com/news/2014/02/18/common-core-worrisome-for-special-ed-students

Parents of children with learning challenges have reason to be concerned about the new national curriculum standards, known as Common Core, according to a pair of local special education officials.

"It's going to be a big problem that's going to lead to a lot of problems for a lot of kids," said Christine Case-Lo, co-founder of the Learning Challenges Committee, which functions a bit like a multi-school district PTA for special needs children.

...

Common Core tests will require many more written-out answers, which explain how a pupil arrived at an answer. Not only will test-takers be asked what but now they'll be asked how and why.

"For many of the children who have learning differences, getting to the answer is difficult enough," Ruthie Wunderling, a learning specialist, said. Now they will not only be asked to answer a math problem, but they'll be required to explain how they arrived at their answer with proper syntax, grammar and punctuation.

Common Core does not take out the rights of a student with an IEP. For example- our high school students whose IEP lists read aloud get to take their test with the read aloud done by a test proctor. If their IEP includes writing, grammar, syntax, then they are allowed to state their answers out lour and the answers are recorded or dictated on paper by a test proctor. If they have an IEP that states extended time, they get extended time beyond the test time limits. The key is having your IEP written correctly and including testing factors.

As to teaching to the test- doesn't matter if your child opts out or not- the classroom instruction is the same for all. And yes, as a teacher myself, we hate it just as much as you, but good teachers find a way to do test prep that is fun and not just a bunch of bubble sheets. My kids have never sat in my class doing bubble sheet after bubble sheet- they do group work, research projects, writing to learn activities, etc and my kids have consistently had the highest scores in the county for the past 6 years. There will always be some sort of standardized instruction- call it state standards, common core, national science standards, blah, blah, blah. Good teachers need to teach using strategies for learning that have proven successful. The test scores will fall in line. Rather than push the opt-out movement- push your school system to use research based learning strategies- reading to learn, writing to learn, groupwork, scaffolding, AVID, etc.

 

[mom2rtk]

Kids don't need a lesson in "opting out" of things they don't agree with. They need a lesson in persevering no matter what.

That is why I'm glad we didn't help our son look for an exit when he was so upset at the prospect of taking his first big standardized test 12 years ago. We helped him look for ways to cope with a stressful situation in hopes that he would be able to face even more stressful situations down the line. And we now have every confidence that when he's ready to take the CPA exam in a little over a year, he'll rise to the occasion and succeed.

There was another student in my son's class all those years ago who struggled with similar anxiety issues. He was identified as gifted early on, but the mother allowed him to stay home every time something "stressful" was going on in the classroom. He never did learn to deal with difficult situations. She pulled him out to home school in middle school, but still never pushed him when he was "stressed". He got a GED but still has not started college. He works part-time in a liquor store now. It's one of the greatest wastes of talent and potential I have ever seen.