Tuesday, October 19, 2010
We need to change things
Last week, my collaborating teacher and I administered two portions of the MEAP to our third grade students. Long story short, one of our students literally cried their eyes out for the entirety of the test. These days in school are truly traumatic for so many of our kids--if you really analyze the situation (students are handed this test with no real understanding of why they are taking it, they are not allowed to ask any questions, etc., etc.), it's easy to see how these tests are frightening. I understand that we are required to administer these tests, and am not proposing their elimination, because that would be virtually impossible. However, we must be willing and able to provide accommodations to our students that can help them to feel more comfortable when taking these high-stakes exams.
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I can remember being in Elementary School taking the MEAP being so nervous about the results. The teachers (like today) made it seem like such a big deal and I did not want to be that one student that ruined it for the school. I know when I observed in a middle school reasource room, they did have special alternative testing and rules for these students. Maybe that would have been a better test for the student who was upset throughout the process. Obviously since the student was upset, they will more than likely not do as he/she would have if they were happy and content about the test.
ReplyDeleteYea, I agree.. it's just so unfortunate that, in many cases, students need a specific diagnosis to "prove" that they require accommodations and my modifications. And I can totally agree with what you are saying about the fear that these types of tests often create in students--the tests are difficult enough as is, and the added pressure placed on both students and teachers simply makes the situation worse.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I understand that there needs to be a way to see that students are learning what they should be learning I feel the system of test taking in America is very flawed. I think that people need to consider using multiple forms of testing for students so that each student will be able to fully display their abilities. There may be a student who knows so much information, but they never get the chance to show it because they aren't good test takers or have difficulties reading. My question is why shouldn't that student be given an alternate form of an assessment. Although the student may be given the test differently he or she will be able to display what they have learned just like any other student.
ReplyDeleteThe MEAP was always something that I hated taking. I always would think how can the assess what I know off of one test, I personally am not a good test taker. Something that gets me is that all states have tests like these. Why have them? All I hear from educators and students is that they are truthfully pointless and do not show what a student is learning. I would like to see if there was any change if we stopped taking the MEAP because I have had teachers who have wasted a whole day of instruction just to teach MEAP material instead of what we were going to be learning.
ReplyDeleteI went to school in Illinois before college but I remember these tests. You can tell the teachers are stressing over them and so as the student you pick up on that. Also you see this test changes your entire school schedule for more than a day. Everything is out of whack so students do not feel as comfortable and settled as they normally do. This can obviously effect test scores from stress and also leave a traumatic experience about school for students. I get that it is important to see where students are at and that they are meeting standards but should these test really leave a students potentially scarred and disliking education because of that. I know standardized testing will continue so I think that it's important for the teacher to make sure that they stay calm and collected over it as well as encouraging. The students cannot as questions but they need to have the confidence that they can do it and the best they can do is going to be great. When you have a situation of standardized testing the teacher cannot change the testing but help to make the experience a little less scary and a little less overwhelming for the students.
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