Our school sent our child home with workbooks

[The Mystery Machine]

Originally posted by Toby'sFriend
Many college scholarships are based off of PSAT scores. I don't think anybody can refute that there is a "trick" to taking these tests and that scores improve with practice. I just sometimes cynically wonder how long it will be until our school decides that the 2nd graders need to start studying those SAT vocabulary lists.

Obviously something does not add up.

From what I can see, I come from an area that would not send books home to practice over the summer. Heck, they don't even want you to bring school class books home.

Thanks for the info about PSAT. I didn't know that!

 

[becka]

Originally posted by Toby'sFriend
Well you're right. My 7th grader is pretty average (grade wise, I personally think he's exceptional but that's a Mom's opinion) and he is nowhere near ready to take the SAT exam.

I am sure that your son is exceptional. I guess I really just wonder why (with the exception of some special program like John Hopkins that may require an SAT score from a 12 y/o,etc) would so many 7th graders WANT or NEED to take the SAT. The traditional reason for taking the SAT is to use it as an aptittude test for college. It almost seem like schools are using SAT scores of very young students in place of IQ testing and other testing that could help identify exceptional students who needed advanced work and placement in special programs.

Most of the schools around here start having the kids take sample SAT tests in Jr. High in order to prepare for the PSAT in High School. Many college scholarships are based off of PSAT scores. I don't think anybody can refute that there is a "trick" to taking these tests and that scores improve with practice. I just sometimes cynically wonder how long it will be until our school decides that the 2nd graders need to start studying those SAT vocabulary lists.

You are right that being familiar with the testing format can help a person maybe get a few extra points but someone is not going to raise their score by hundreds of points because they started looking at sample tests in utero. The only scholarships I am aware of that are based on the PSAT is the National Merit Scholarships but maybe that has changed as well. There are many resources available for students that include sample SAT/ACT tests if they choose to take advantage of them. I took a sample ACT test the day before my actual exam for practice and that was all the prepping I felt I needed. I don't really have a problem with the occassional worksheet with sample-like test questions for kids who are in high school but to start so young just seems a little silly to me and makes me question where the emphasis lies in the curriculum.

You're right Becka in that it is significantly different than what we faced in High School. I see some good in it and alot of bad. I also have to wonder, we see and hear so much about these Advanced Curriculums and the amazing things kids study these days, yet our school systems and so many of our students are failing and they are failing spectacuarly.

Obviously something does not add up.

You are right that it does not add up. I am not too far removed from my high school days and I just can't understand how much it appears to have changed and not always for the better. I graduated in 1993 yet my younger brother who is just finishing up his junior year in high school is far below where me and my sister were at that point. Yes we are different people but it actually seems that his curriculum has been less rigorous than mine and I wonder if that it because the schools are going to such great lengths to provide for exceptional students on both ends of the spectrum that your average students are left out in the cold. The average students are the bulk of those test scores that everyone wants to put so much stock into. Maybe this constant pressure to do well is having the opposite effect. We had standardized testing when I was in school and it was never a big deal. We didn't spend month's preparing and we had maybe one practice sheet the day before the test and a reminder to eat a good breakfast and get a good night of sleep the night before. Our scores were higher than today's scores - why?

 

[Toby'sFriend]

In general, the teacher's are not to blame for the workload involved with end of grade test preparation. Blame the legislators.

I completely agree with that!

It's very easy to pass laws that require testing to show your support for education. It apparently is much more difficult to find money in the State Budget to give to the schools in order to help them achieve those standards.

 

[disykat]

I'm against workbooks being considered a standard summer curriculum (basically required), but that doesn't make me against summer enrichment and skill practice.

I took the SAT in the beginning of my senior year, PSAT in my junior year. This was standard in the late 70's when I took the test. It was considered a college entrance exam. No one took it unless they were planning to go to college (since at that time only the "smart kids" went to college - the scores were higher). None of us practiced beforehand (that was what the PSAT was for). I remember about two juniors in the room who were planning on graduating early. There are tons of standardized tests out there - I don't get why 7th graders would be taking a college entry exam.

I don't remember what my scores were on the SAT. I doubt I could even find them in my parents file cabinets. They were used for college admission - period. Now it seems like all you hear about are scores. I recently reviewed scholarship applicants and many of them included their scores. None of us bothered to look at them - didn't consider them relevant for our purposes.

I have to laugh about the 40% of parents who think their kids poop chocolate ice cream. While in my experience the % hasn't been that high, I certainly have ran across those parents. I don't think any of them are participating on this thread though!

 

[jrmasm]

but I really don't think that there are that many 7th graders that are taking the SATs. Additionally, the kids that are taking this test are taking it due to an invitation that was extended to them and voluntarily. Why are people getting upset about this?? It's been going on for more that 20 years?

 

[JohnTBap]

Originally posted by Karel
I don't think there's any flunking involved in standardized testing but the schools do want children to do well because it's a reflection on them.

Actually, high stakes testing just began in Texas this year. In THIRD GRADE, if the student doesn't pass the Reading test, they might not go on to 4th grade. (There's a whole other series of steps involved before that is determined, but since teachers only get 30 minutes for lunch, I'm not going to detail them now. If anyone is interested, I can after school.)

 

[lisajl]

In Ohio my son took an "off year" test. It is suppose to help him with the test next year.

Now, IF he does not pass all the requirements next year, he will not be going on to fifth grade. So, yes, they will fail your child.

Lisajl

 

[gepetto]

(at least here in NC) if a child fails the first time, they take it again before school ends. If they fail that one as well, they take another at the end of the summer school session. If they fail a 3rd time, the principal reviews the work done during that school year. Ultimately, the principal has the final decision on retention.

 

[disykat]

I worry about them using standardized tests to determine success so early (kids under 10). Some kids develop late. I went from low reading group to high reading group in 3rd grade. My dh was class valedictorian in high school, but remembers what a big deal it was when he learned to read in 3rd grade. Both of us would have flunked if the tests were held before "the light came on".

 

[bobcat]

As Lisa mentioned in Ohio if a student doesn't pass the 4th grade reading test then they are held back. Period, end of story. There was a huge fear the past few years about what this might do to fourth grade class sizes. If as many students failed as predicted how would the school handle this. I remember split classes being discussed as one possible option, where the student would do some 5th grade work but yet repeat 4th grade LA. From what I have seen this fear didn't materialize and most of the students passed. My daughter was in the first year of having to pass the test and I was concerned. She's an excellent student and a tremendous reader but her 3rd grade off year test indicated she wasn't a good test taker. I feared that she could be held back because she was having an off day and had problems taking this one test. IMHO testing should also be weighed with class work/grades and not an all or nothing approach.

 

[Karel]

Here in NJ, it's not a pass/fail thing but I do agree that it's entirely too much pressure if someone will be held back because they didn't pass a grade school test.

 

[RitaZ.]

It seems that every year the standards are revised and changes are made, at least here in FL. Last year, if a student didn't pass the FCAT, beginning with 4th grade, he or she was retained. This year it's different, it begins with 3rd grade. Also this year, 5th graders took the first FCAT Science test. The results should be in by the end of this month or early June.

I think these tests are necessary, but some modifications need to be made. I think too much emphasis is placed on these tests, especially in elementary school. Some kids get stressed out over it, to the point that they make themselves sick. Frankly, I think that MANY of us wouldn't have passed these standardized tests when we went to school. My older DS attends a Magnet school and I'm often surprised at the things that he is learning. From what I have seen, the teachers are working really hard at preparing students for these tests.

One of my main concerns about these tests, is that all this pressure to perform may turn off some kids and keep them from going to college.
Here is link that may be interesting to some of you about what's going on in FL.

http://www.click10.com/education/2196461/detail.html

BTW, in this article you will read that some folks feel that the test should be given in other languages, besides English. Personally, I think this is wrong. Here in FL, if a student does'tn pass the FCAT in 10th grade, they get 5 more opportunities to take it. I think something is wrong when a student takes a test that many times and still isn't able to pass.

 

[lisajl]

I think something is wrong when a student takes a test that many times and still isn't able to pass.


I totally agree. My nephew was not diagnosed with dyslexia until he was in high school. If he would have to take these tests he would have failed miserably. So, I hope everyone sees that it is not always a childs fault that they do not pass.
While I also agree, it is not always a teachers fault.

I also agree there is too much pressure put on kids now.
That goes for everything in life, not just tests.

 

[katerkat]

In Mississippi, the standardized test is used to determine the school's level (1-5). In this district, there is FAR too much emphasis on the test. I think it's not the test -- it's the overemphasis on the test. ONE test should not determine everything. But because it does, the schools spend so much time teach HOW to do the test. It's sad, and it's not how education is supposed to be.

 

[Megan's Mom]

There have been several comments about teachers teaching the test all year long. I teach here in Alabama and our state course of study is different that the standarized test objectives. So you see our problem. We have complained about this for years to the state department with no results and when test scores are printed in the paper with your schools name by them what else is a person to do. Soon they will be seperating scores by teacher name and class period. Talk about teaching test then. Education needs to be overhauled and No Child Left Behind is not the answer. It shoud be a partnership with the parents and teachers not a battle to see who does a better job or a worse job.

 

[Talking Hands]

Originally posted by RitaZ.
BTW, in this article you will read that some folks feel that the test should be given in other languages, besides English. Personally, I think this is wrong. Here in FL, if a student does'tn pass the FCAT in 10th grade, they get 5 more opportunities to take it. I think something is wrong when a student takes a test that many times and still isn't able to pass.

I also am in Florida and am opposed to the tests being given in any language but English. Right now the way it is given, deaf students are not even allowed an interpreter except for the initial instructions read outloud to the class. They have to come up to grade level standards and can be held back same as a hearing kid. If the give the test in other languages then a deaf student should have an interpreter to change all language to sign language as that is their primary language.