Kids and State Testing...

[dizagain]

Hey - gotta vent! 10 yr-old DD took Math TAKS (state test) today. She was not allowed to speak ALL DAY, INCLUDING LUNCH, got no recess, and had to sit at her desk and read or watch "Monster's Inc" in the afternoon. Her entire class had completed the test before lunch, however they could not speak anyway. They have to go through more of the same tomorrow as they take the Reading TAKS.

Am I being silly for feeling so angry? Isn't 7 1/2 hours in a desk with no talking a little much? And when I told her not to stress out, she said she was concerned that if she did a bad job her TEACHER WOULD GET FIRED!!!! Why does she think this??!??!
Not to mention the fact that she was first introduced to long division YESTERDAY - I suppose it was an attempt to prepare them for a portion of this lovely test. She was terrified and she is in the gifted program at school!

Whew.... feel better already! Anyone else out there going through this joy?

 

[grinningghost]

Don't even get me started on all the state testing here in NY. I feel your pain. When DD was in elementary and middle school, it seemed every other week it was some major important state test - it even has the teachers crazy around here. They have no time to teach their regular curriculums because of all the mandatory state tests.

And yes - 7 1/2 hours is a ridiculous amount of time for a kid to sit still and not talk.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

your testing procedure sounds extreme, to say the least.

my older dd is in 8th grade, a major testing grade in NY. in fact, schools in NY are judged on the "school report card", a comaprison of each school's scores on the 4th grade and 8th grade standardized tests. and in high school, everyone must take Regents exams in various subject areas.

 

[Danauk]

That seems way too much. I teach in England and last year taught 11 year olds who sit national tests in English, maths and science. Our tests take place over a week and the longest test is an hour. At the end of the test the papers are collected in and put straight into an envelope to be posted off for marking. We try to keep the testing as stress free as possible and give the children time to stretch their legs, have a drink and a chat before the next test. I know when I was doing my exams at 16 after one exam we had to be kept in iscolation for an hour as they were national tests and some schools started their tests after we had finished ours so we had to be kept in iscolation in case anyone tried to contact someone who was about to sit the paper. But even then we could talk.

 

[KathyTX]

I feel your pain!! They do put an awful lot of emphasis on TAKS, don't they?

I also have a 10 year old, in the same school district as you (who knows- maybe the same school!)

He didn't come home scared that the teacher would get fired, but they alse were not allowed to talk all day or have recess. He took a book to read for after the test. He told me that they were told that they had two options once the test was over: bring a book to read quietly, or they could spend the time going over their TAKS answers.

I hate the amount of time we (the schools, the students, and the parents) have to devote to this test... I'll be glad when tomorrow's portion is over, too.

 

[mommystieg]

I had a friend who quit teaching because of the testing. She said that all she did was "teach to the test" She said that once the testing is over it is hard to keep the kids focused until the end of the school year since they know all the emphasis is on the TAKS.

 

[Aimeedyan]

It's ridiculous... and the teachers hate is just as much as the students and parents. Many teachers are leaving the profession because they aren't able to TEACH, instead, they are training chlidren to TEST and PASS.

Ridiculous. I knew that was this week... I have several friends that are teachers... ARGH.

I hope she gets lots of outside time tonight to run out all that energy.

 

[janette]

Oh the joys of TAKS! Both my girls took tests today. My youngest is 3rd grade and has a reading disability so she took it in the resource room, it was the regular test but that way if she needed help with the reading she could get it. They were also allowed to walk around the school if they needed to so not stuck at the desk all day.

My older DD is in 6th and is in pre-AP math so shouldn't have any problems with the test.

Our school seems to be pretty good about not teaching the test, we moved a couple of years ago and the other school started practice tests in 1st grade. It was all they talked about, my older DD mentioned that once in math they skipped part of the book because it wasn't something that would be on TAKS!

When we had the ARD for my youngest they said they arent' even sure what the testing procedures are going to be next year . I'm not sure if that was just for special education students or all but they haven't given the teachers / administrators all the information but they are supposed to make plans for next year now.

The good news - only 1 more month of school !

 

[The Mystery Machine]

WOW!

We don't have that test here in Missouri. Our kids take the MAP test and there is NO studying for it.

I don't know whether that is good or bad?

 

[nemo1987]

tommorrow my high school starts the state testing that is just for juniors. the prarie state achievement exams and we also take the act.we are split into tow different wings at our school and put into classes by what teacher we have third hour. we have to stay in there all day as well, but it isnt the same as what it would be for a kid. for the younger ones, they should get a recess. bur wait maybe we should too.... lol!! i wish!!
**Sarah**

 

[Banzai]

I went through the joys of PSSA [Pennsyvania State School Assessments] recently. Those were just as much fun. It was like taking the SATs for a week. Not fun We also had to write essays for a week in Feb. Another fun time!

I think what they are doing for your DD is a bit extreame though. No talking all day? Why?

 

[KathyTX]

Originally posted by Banzai
I think what they are doing for your DD is a bit extreame though. No talking all day? Why?

So the kids can't discuss the contents of the test before *everyone* has completed it.

DS reports that everyone in his class had completed the test by lunchtime, too. His biggest complaint about the day was that recess was cancelled.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Originally posted by Aimeedyan
It's ridiculous... Many teachers ..... aren't able to TEACH, instead, they are training chlidren to TEST and PASS.

I shortened the original post to express my thoughts on the state testing program.

As a parent, regarding the PSSA (PA State School Assessment) testing, I feel there is way too much emphasis on a test that is meant to test a student's ability to grasp the material they have been taught. If the teachers are doing their job, the prepartion and needless attempt at closing these kids off from contact with other kids during the testing (OR LUNCH!) is ridiculous. My DD is in 7th grade this year and has a class devoted to prepping for the test she will take in 8th grade. They delay school two hours for the other two grades in the building during the week the tests are given.

 

[missypie]

I JUST KNEW when I read the title of your thread that you were from Texas!!! And this was just the first of three days!

 

[dizagain]

Pixie dust to all the Texas kiddos tomorrow and Thursday!!! Thankfully my DD only has tomorrow left since 4th did writing tests earlier, but I know in 5th grade she'll be going for three in a row!

I heard several folks around here say they decided to pick their kids up early (after they completed the test, of course!). It's not a bad idea...hmmm...

Oh! And pixie dust to the teachers too...I DO know it's not your fault!

 

[RitaZ.]

Wow, that is extreme!

I was a proctor at my younger kids' school during the FCAT and every grade took the test at the same time. It wasn't anything like what you described though. The one class that I was in, the kids and teacher were doing jumping jacks and other things to relax them before the test. They had no homework during testing week and were given extra recess time and did other activities to let the kids unwind.

 

[Megan's Mom]

As a teacher I can tell you we hate testing just as much as kids and parents. In Alabama the 5,7,10 grades all take the Alabama writing exam. Then all grades take the Standford achievement test. Then this year 4,6,8, grades had to take the Alabama reading and math test. they have tested these poor kids to death. The SAT and ARMT test were given two weeks ago. It is really hard keeping those kids in class and busy while everyone else finishs up. You always have one of the "smart" ones that takes 10 minutes for a 50 minute test. There has got to be a better way!

 

[Planogirl]

In our district (we're actually in Frisco), the kids were allowed to talk during lunch but not at any other time and recess was cancelled. DS said that the test took all day but that could mean anything coming from him.

 

[Pooh's Pal]

We have similar testing here in Massachusetts. We have MCAS,(Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) testing in Math and English in I believe they are given in the 4th, 8th and 10th grades. You must pass the one in the tenth grade or you do not graduate with a dipolma....you'll get a slip of paper saying you've attended high school...not a diploma!
When my DD took them in tenth grade and passed,(and she doesn't usually test well) I said to her, "Well those marks aren't that bad...are you glad?" Her response: "I'm just glad I don't have to take them again and now I can get on with my education and graduate!"
Nice....talk about stressful!!

Good luck to all those students....parents and teachers here in MA. are fighting these tests in the state house!

 

[tar heel]

Are the Texas tests not timed? In North Carolina, testing each day is finished by lunchtime.

Isn't it great that through No Child Left Behind, President Bush is making sure all of us get tested like Texas? Of course, we were already doing it in North Carolina. The really big losers are the gifted kids. It should be called No Child Left Behind and No Child Getting Ahead Either.