Question for Parents

[MrsDuck]

I am a 7th grade teacher and here in FL our kids are about to take the Florida Standardized Test (the dreaded FCAT).

As a parent, would you prefer that during these next two testing weeks that your child continue to learn new concepts in the classes where no test is being administered OR that your child do a fun, stress-free activity like a group project, watching a movie, etc? Testing at my school will happen every day in the morning for a week.

Just curious... as a teacher, I have my own opinion and it differs from teacher to teacher. I am mainly interested in hearing what the DIS Parents have to say, just for my own knowledge.

 

[lillygator]

My daughter is getting ready for these ridiculous FCAT's. 7th grade, I would probably prefer my child to still learn new concepts, but maybe not as stringent as normal.

My children are in elementary and the pressure they keep stressing is insane, so I would rather they get to blow off some steam.

What I don't care for is the teachers here stopped teaching a couple weeks ago and have been teaching the test so to speak.

 

[design_mom]

I think it would depend on what the new concepts were. I'm not sure I'd want my kid having to learn a whole boat-load of new spelling words *and* doing a research project *and* ___. On the other hand, two weeks of testing in the morning and goofing off in the afternoon seems like a big waste of time.

When I was in school, standardized tests were all day, every day for a week. I loved that week because there was no homework. But if testing is only 1/2 day...I feel like they ought to be learning something in the other half. Not just watching movies, unless the movie is *specifically* tied into the classroom work that has been going on. And I've never had a "stress free" group project in my entire life!

 

[MrsDuck]

And I've never had a "stress free" group project in my entire life!

TRUE! I guess what I meant is "fun" group work in class!

 

[lorimay]

I hated those darn tests when my kids were in school.

The stress level was crazy.

I think that it would have been awesome if they would let the kids unwind the rest of the day after testing was over.

My happiest day was when we enrolled our son in a Catholic High School and he didn't have to take it again.

 

[DJinPA]

My kids are taking the Pennsylvania version this week. The schools and teacher plan a lot of fun activities- like kickball tournaments, capture the flag, extra recess, and I think the exercise is a great outlet. My kids don't dread the PSSAs, they love the week with no homework and fun activities, so I think it is great week. I don't think they lose anything academically since they have been teaching to the tests all year...;-), so they are looking at the info on the tests.

 

[Liberty Belle]

During that time I would prefer my child expand on some thing he's already learned in class with a project or hands on experiment, etc. Without sounding too "Dis-typical," my son is very smart and would love to learn further about many things he's interested in. He does a lot at home, but loves when his teacher gives interesting, advanced (advanced in concept, not in paperwork), projects.

 

[okeydokey]

I would like a little time to decompress and then actual learning to take place. It would be great if it was a project or something tactile instead of just sitting and listening to lecture. Maybe some engaging group work.

We are in FL and my son is in the 7th grade.

 

[Jedana]

No new concepts.
These kids are put under soo much pressure with these tests---all they hear is "you have to do well or you can't move up to the next grade or go to summer school". The endless weeks of practicing test taking.

DS's teacher has tshirts for them, to wear the first day of testing next week. Parents sent in snacks for after the tests, and she has movie days planned.

 

[Poohforyou]

My 8th grade DD has NJASK in a few weeks. Her teachers do some light teaching during non-testing periods but it's fun and easy stuff and doesn't include any homework. I don't think there is anything wrong with teaching a little but I wouldn't expect too much from a lot of the kids. Many are really spent after all that testing.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

If the Florida standardized tests are anything like the Texas standardized tests, I would want my child to be learning new material. When I was in school, our state test was called TAAS (Texas Assessment of Academic Skills). When I became a teacher, the test was changed to TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills). Now it is called STAAR (I have no idea what this stands for but I bet one A stands for Assessment and the other A stands for Academic). Anyway, this test seemed to be a joke for anyone who was getting A's and B's. In fact, you could even be the kind of student who got the occasional C and the test would still be a snap. The state test really isn't like finals where you are studying and trying to retain specific information. You just go in and take the thing. As such, I see no reason that the other classes need to be watered down - unless the thinking is to just give them a break after sitting in a classroom for half a day staring at scantrons and being silent. I get that thinking. Personally, though, I feel like if the teachers are going to be encouraged to give kids time off from learning after they finish up their test for the day, just let them go home or play outside.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If the Florida standardized tests are anything like the Texas standardized tests, I would want my child to be learning new material. When I was in school, our state test was called TAAS (Texas Assessment of Academic Skills). When I became a teacher, the test was changed to TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills). Now it is called STAAR (I have no idea what this stands for but I bet one A stands for Assessment and the other A stands for Academic). Anyway, this test seemed to be a joke for anyone who was getting A's and B's. In fact, you could even be the kind of student who got the occasional C and the test would still be a snap. The state test really isn't like finals where you are studying and trying to retain specific information. You just go in and take the thing. As such, I see no reason that the other classes need to be watered down - unless the thinking is to just give them a break after sitting in a classroom for half a day staring at scantrons and being silent. I get that thinking. Personally, though, I feel like if the teachers are going to be encouraged to give kids time off from learning after they finish up their test for the day, just let them go home or play outside.

STAAR - State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

STAAR - State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness

Thanks. So I WAS right about with the two A's stood for.

 

[HelenePA]

My kids are taking the Pennsylvania version this week. The schools and teacher plan a lot of fun activities- like kickball tournaments, capture the flag, extra recess, and I think the exercise is a great outlet. My kids don't dread the PSSAs, they love the week with no homework and fun activities, so I think it is great week. I don't think they lose anything academically since they have been teaching to the tests all year...;-), so they are looking at the info on the tests.

are yours only 1 week long? my 4th grader has them everyday for 3 weeks!! two weeks of math and reading then one week of science she is in 4th grade. My 2nd grader will take the terra novas in 2 weeks for a week these aren't mandatory by the state and just give the schools an idea on how they'll do next year in 3rd grade.. my 4th grader got a almost perfect score on hers in 2nd (yes shameless mommy brag!)

I'm going to assume they are still doing other stuff for these 3 weeks as well.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I think spending half the day doing nothing is a waste of time and resources. But the students shouldn't have homework.

 

[Chernabog#1fan]

Middle school children already have specific electives, so just filling the rest of the day with forms of PE (which I think would actually be good) is probably not an option. So in that case, I think that it should be a fun activity that introduces a new topic or expands on one they are already learning about. For example, if it is Spanish class, maybe have a fiesta. History, maybe a movie about the topic that you are teaching. Art projects are usually fun too.

 

[Styx Fan]

The kids are already losing way too much instructional/learning time with these dang tests. They should be all means continue to learn in the remainder of the day. A recess or a longer lunch would be appropriate in between.

 

[2disneyboys]

if my kids were in a school where they had to take these types of tests, I would want them to spend the other part of the day learning new concepts, but perhaps make those lesson plans a bit more "active" then usual lesson plans, therefore they could blow off some of the stress from sitting all morning taking tests.

SO I guess I vote on the fun group eductional projects. So rather then sitting and working on worksheets or something, a more hands on group activity that is based on concepts that are coming up in the lesson plans that will take place after the testing is done would be a more useful use of time without being overwhelming to the kids. I would also vote for no to very minimal homework during the testing time.

 

[DJinPA]

are yours only 1 week long? my 4th grader has them everyday for 3 weeks!! two weeks of math and reading then one week of science she is in 4th grade. My 2nd grader will take the terra novas in 2 weeks for a week these aren't mandatory by the state and just give the schools an idea on how they'll do next year in 3rd grade.. my 4th grader got a almost perfect score on hers in 2nd (yes shameless mommy brag!)

I'm going to assume they are still doing other stuff for these 3 weeks as well.

They are six days for the younger kids (I think about half a day) and three for the middle school. Certain grades, I think 4th, 5th and 8th get extra days added, but they aren't a full week and they aren't consecutive....2nd graders and younger don't take it.

 

[dsneprincess]

NY 7th grade mom here. We also start state testing next week in English Language Arts & the following week is Math. I find group projects tend to be MORE stressful than individual projects, but I am hoping we don't have boatloads of homework & new concepts introduced next week. What my son's school does is shorten every period INCLUDING lunch, which is shorter than all others by 10 minutes to begin with AND they have NO recess. I will not be happy if we see lots of homework, although I am somewhat encouraged as there were 3 major tests today, so hopefully next week will be a little lighter work wise.

I am encouraged to see that a teacher actually "gets" it. I do not get that impression from my son's school!