dagblog - Comments for "The Test of a Great Teacher (This is not a test.)"

The central focus on test

moat — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 01:23:30 +0000

In reply to The Test of a Great Teacher (This is not a test.)

The central focus on test results that Rebecca Mieliwocki is referring to is not about the use of tests as a part of teaching and learning as such. She is talking about the policy driving the No Child Left Behind Act that separates instruction from the assessment of learning part of their job. Having broken that work into two parts, the policy then uses the "objective" results obtained through the process to assess the performance of teachers. The division of labor here is important to remember because discussions of the matter are susceptible to orgies of conflation between the three tasks.

For instance, Mr. Perkins just provided an excellent example of presenting the matter as a method of instruction when the NCLB act has nothing to say on that point at all. The act does introduce a strong incentive to have assessments made by teachers correspond very closely to how students perform in standardized test. That policy is the one Mieliwocki is challenging.

Greg, while your methods may

Ramona — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 19:58:00 +0000

In reply to My name is Greg Perkins and I

Greg, while your methods may sound like just the ticket to an educated adult, they're death to kids (and to me, by the way) who have already figured out better ways of learning.

Nobody argues that testing isn't necessary, or that teaching kids how to take tests is not a good thing, but too much testing--to the point of teaching to the test--leaves no room for creative thinking, looking at other ways to solve a problem. The ones who memorize and retain best win the contest.

There's more to learning than that, and I guarantee that any successful person will tell you it wasn't the rigors or the discipline of the testing that did it, it was the hard work--and wholehearted interest in what they're doing.

This is what I'm trying to get across: http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2012/03/07/a-lesson-in-teaching-to-the-test-from-e-b-white/

My name is Greg Perkins and I

Greg Perkins — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 16:20:30 +0000

In reply to The Test of a Great Teacher (This is not a test.)

My name is Greg Perkins and I have been involved with K-12 education for almost 20 years. I am a strong advocate of public school education, however I disagree with your statement “It's near impossible to teach to the test and still produce students who can broaden their learning skills outside of the classroom.”

It is very possible to teach to the test using targeted, systematic, repetition until skill mastery is achieved. Students will be faced with taking tests for the rest of their lives to enter college, to exit college, to apply for a job, to acquire certification renewal, to become a doctor, to become a lawyer, etc. so why not prepare them for the challenge of test taking? Most students fail tests because they have not been exposed to the skills they will encounter during standardized testing. Schools must adopt learning principles that work. Ask any so called talented person about how they became exceptional and they will tell you it was focused hard work and lots of repetition that led to his or her greatness. One book that illustrates this is Geoff Colvin’s book Talent is Overrated. He discusses how high achieving individuals become great at what they do. I believe that students who cannot read do not read. Students who read succeed. Schools throughout the year use short sentences and paragraphs to teach below average students reading skills. When students are tested they have to actually read 300 to 800 word grade level reading passages. The students are doomed before they begin. They have never had to read that much material in one setting their entire life. They do not have the stamina to sit for an extended period of time and read and answer questions with proficiency. I advocate through my blog www.connectthedotsreadingchallenge.com that if students read one grade level reading passage daily and answer the related questions followed by a review with the teacher of what the correct answers are they will become expert readers by the time they have to take the state’s standardized exam.

The same holds true for math. Students should complete at least 5 math problems based on the five strands of math Numeric Expressions, Algebraic Thinking, Geometry, Data Analysis, and Measurement. Being exposed to the five strands daily broadens and deepens a student’s understanding of math as a whole as opposed to math as individual functions. Experts repeat tasks and constantly refine their skills according to the mistakes they make during the performance process. Too many public schools do not challenge students to perform at the level in which they are expected to during standardized tests. We live in a complicated and dynamic world and public schools have to keep up with its demands if they are to survive.

Daily Howler continues to

Anonymous PP — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 14:29:26 +0000

In reply to The Test of a Great Teacher (This is not a test.)

Daily Howler continues to note the great improvements in test scores for minorities over the last decade, and how mainstream media continues to ignore it and claim schools are still failing. And continuously little respect for the teacher and supporting them in the process. Considering the level of immigration, the improvement is astounding. But pretending there's failure sells more newspapers & gets more TV viewers.

If it weren't that I adore my

Ramona — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 14:17:00 +0000

In reply to I'm more like your grandson.

If it weren't that I adore my grandson and am thrilled that he turned into a thinking, creative, caring, bold adult (like you), I might have hated what you just wrote. Instead, I'll just say it takes all kinds. . .

I'm more like your grandson.

Donal — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 13:56:16 +0000

In reply to The Test of a Great Teacher (This is not a test.)

I'm more like your grandson. My favorite days were when they brought in the standardized tests — it was like a day off to me.