Freedom in Assessment
Assessment is where I am feeling the least free within the structure we have in our district. Our mandated reading and math assessments are so comprehensive and numerous that to create new, performance based assessments would be counterproductive to student learning.
However, my teammates and I enjoying working within the science and social studies [...]
Balancing Testing with Creativity
Our MCAS test begins today. Three days of testing in ELA (English Language Arts). Today, students are asked to write a personal narrative and the other two days, students will be given all other means of ELA testing: reading selections, multiple choice, essay response (open response), grammar, conventions, etc.
I do agree with [...]
High Stakes Testing
This is my vacation week – February vacation – and I am enjoying it greatly. The thing is, I know that when I get back to work on Monday, everything is going to hit. In fact a couple other teachers and I call it boot camp – MCAS boot camp. We will [...]
TIC – A New Beginning
This may ramble a little – just need to get some thoughts out…
For a leadership class I am currently enrolled in, I am to assess the environment I hope to change. Right now, I am in the middle of doing some reading and developing a survey. This is not easy. I feel [...]
So many assessments!
I just attended a workshop about assessments and in particular, we looked at the results of our state’s high stakes testing (MCAS). We scanned, compared, looked at the challenges and weaknesses of our students in terms of what is tested and then our principal asked us to create a list of other ways we [...]
The Process
During these time of such high-stakes testing, we need to explore new and innovative ways to make sure the arts does not get beaten back, but brought to the forefront.
Who is going to be the first to have the guts to try it? Not just we teachers in the classrooms, but administrators and politicians. [...]
More on the Journey
Our students and children are on a journey and we are their teachers, their guides. It is our job to expose them to all that life has to offer.
So here is my ramble…
There was once a time when people gathered around a piano and sang and they weren’t afraid to sing, weren’t intimidated by song. [...]
