The world of testing

Each day as a teacher we are committed to teaching the “whole child.” However, hidden within all of that, teachers, administrators, and even the students become stressed about the testing. In Tennessee’s case this is called the TCAP (Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program). Take a step into a 3^rd-8^th grade classroom around the end of March. There is a very different feeling that lingers in the air. Teachers are often reviewing previous skills as refreshers in mass quantities. While these scores have always been very important, as of this year these scores play a factor in the evaluations of the teacher each year. The scores are directly correlated with how well the teacher taught the material. I feel that if we are committed to teach the “whole child” then this should also be applied to the assessment types we use on our children. The form of testing we are currently using does not promote teaching the whole child. While the TCAP is not the form of testing used for students below 3^rd grade, the lower grades also have a form of assessment used. Many of my students struggle to read words they have never been exposed to which in turn impacts their answers. This is not an accurate way to assess if they know the content. They may have known the answer, but the new word confused them.

            I do think it is important to monitor where your students are in their learning because we can use that information to meet the students’ needs. However, the use of scores to impact teacher evaluations and student’s grades does not follow our mission to meet the whole child. These tests put a great deal of stress on the children, and are asking quiet a lot of a small 7 year- old. I do not know many people who are able to sit in front of a book completely quiet and on task for multiple hours.

            China took part in a new standardized test in 2010 called the Program of International Students Assessment. This test showed that students in China are doing best in Reading, Writing, and Math. While this is the first year with this form of test, there is also a form of test in China that many students prepare for even at a young age. This test known as the gaokao is a multi-day assessment used to determine if a student enters college. A principal in a school in China even mentions that the gaokao is all about straight forward, memorized answers. Creativity, deep, different answers get you no where in this test, whereas the memorized answers get you into the good universities. After the PISA test many principals in China are realizing a need for educational reform to stray away from the memorized answers.  After reading about the educational testing in China, I consider the pressure many of these students must be under. To think that one test is the only thing that determines if they go to college would truly stress me out throughout school. What if you were not a good test taking? What if you learned from oral assessments better?

Resource: Chinese Top in Test, but Educators call for Reform  http://www.npr.org/2010/12/29/132416889/chinese-top-in-tests-but-still-have-lots-to-learn