Saturday, October 16, 2010
Teaching... or Testing?
Many teachers today feel that they are no longer truely able to teach their classes but rather feel that they are simply preparing for the next test. I know that there needs to be accountability in the classroom but I believe that all of the testing has left little to no room for the creative teaching and differentiated instruction that so many of our students so desperately need. I also am concerned that there is so much emphasis on math and reading that other subjects such as science and history are suffering. At some point I think that we need to stop and really take a look at the direction education is going in right now. The current system is not working and students today seem to be leaving school very unprepared for life. What's the next approach? I think it is time to try something new.
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Debi, I am one of those teachers that feels like I am teaching to the test. I have to document on my lesson plans which SPI's I am teaching for that week and my principal and central office administrators must see them. We have a wonderful Glencoe math series with lots of CD Roms and other fun stuff to teach our students mathematics. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that we teach ONLY the lessons covered by an SPI; that means teach only the things that the students will see on TCAP. That takes a lot of group activities, math labs, computer interactive tasks, etc. away from my lessons. I have to be very careful about having fun during my lessons. Now, tell me if that's not teaching to the test.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I know as a student I have never been a good test taker and it is definitely hurting students when schools are forced to focus and spend so much time on testing. As I was, the students who do poorly on tests feel that they are not a good student and get discouraged. We also take our attention off of other subjects to focus on math and reading which tell our students that the other subjects are not as important which is not true! We need to encourage our students and uplift them. Guide them in their strengths and help improve their weaknesses. Testing does not offer that.
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