Assessing children:
The most popular way in USA to assess children is through standardized testing. Nowadays standardized tests are used more to determine the effectiveness of the school staff than the children testing. In several occasions, there is profit behind the results of a standardized test. For example in Florida if a school is graded " A" that school gets a very nice and substantial bonus that it is split between the school staff. Also, the school gets more resources than other schools. Usually the schools that are graded “A” are the schools in the middle and high class neighborhoods. The children that attend those schools are children that have been exposed to many experiences in life. Parents can afford computers and technology and can pay for private tutoring sessions. Many of the children in these neighborhoods have parents whose level of education is high. They typically have stay home mothers who can be more involve in the child’s education. If you take the same staff and put it in a low income neighborhood… do you think that the results will be the same in the standardized test? This is the reason why I do not agree with standardized tests. Assessing children should be an individualized process. Every child is unique and should be given the opportunity to show his strengths in a unique way and not in a standardized test. I also believe that every child has different ways of learning, but, unfortunately, because of these tests many teachers are left, with the only option, to teach to take the test. I will suggest that we assess children by their strengths and not as they are all the same.
Standardized testing is also done in Puerto Rico. The no child left behind act law of 2001 that attempts to close the gap between white, middle class children, and minority and low income children, is also enforced in the island. Standardized tests in Puerto Rico are designed to meet the needs of USA continental children which are not necessary the needs of Puerto Rican children. Puerto Rican children are the majority Spanish speakers and of Latin American culture. These standardized tests are failing in Puerto Rico because the tests do not meet the needs of the children in the Puerto Rican schools. The majorities are from low income families, and they are not meeting the needs of children with disabilities.
Resources:
http://www.kon.org/urc/v9/medina-rodriguez.html
Marta,
ReplyDeleteI live in North Carolina and at the end of the school year my son has to take the EOG (End of Grade) test. It is a stressful time for him. I have seen him have sleepless nights, headaches, even crying moments. It's hard for me to see him like that because of a test. I try to comfort him and give him encouragement that everything is going to be alright. I tell him to do his best, that is all he can do. Before the test I take him out to do whatever he wants. Each night he goes to sleep early and I make sure he gets a good breakfast in the morning. I sent him to a tutoring session that helped him establish test taking skills so that he would not panic and make mistakes.
I decided to volunteer and help with this test last year. It amazed me how scared, nervous and stressed out these children were. I am speaking of children 9 and up. They are not allowed to get out of their seat until everyone has finished the test. Even when they are done with the first part, the only thing they can do is stand up beside their chair and stretch. This test last for at least 3 hours. Talking with the teachers they said that most of the school year is dedicated to preparing them for the test. I don't think it is necessary to make children go through this. When I was in school all I can remember is having exams and the CAT (California Achievement Test).
Hi Marta,
ReplyDeleteThere have been a few schools in low income areas that managed to overcome the challenges of the standardized tests. It required the help of outside resources to help the teachers and children with free tutoring, Saturday school and healthy snacks during study. Not all areas have those advantages. Even thought those children proved that they had the ability to triumph over the odds, they are still in constant battle to get the tools to help them from the school system. Yes, I fell that it is important to make sure that our educator are affective in their ability to teach but even more I fill that the focus should be on providing the same resources for all children so that our economical status will no longer determine our learning abilities.