The Illinois Standards Achievement Test starts on March 4th. Can someone PLEASE explain to me how it is fair that a student gets tested on if they've achieved the standards for an ENTIRE school year in MARCH? The beginning of March to boot! They used to be in April, which I also thought was early, but it's better than March!
I'm sorry, but I can't cram 10 months of material into 6 months. I. just. can't.
Especially when the standards we have to teach to are so vague. I've always hated their unspecific nature. For example:
Language Arts:
Standard 2B2b: Identify and explain themes that have been explored in literature from different societies and eras.
Science:
13B2b: Describe the effects on society of technological innovations (e.g. antibiotics, steam engine, digital computers, etc.)
Social Studies: (thank god we don't get tested in this!)
16.C.2d Describe the economic consequences of the first agricultural revolution, 4000 BCE-1000 BCE.
I mean, don't these sound like topics one does dissertations on rather than 4th grade learning standards??? It is so ridiculous. And how can I possibly teach the enormous scope of what one standard/benchmark covers? And there are SO many for each grade. Am I alone here in thinking this is absurd?
Thursday, February 14, 2008
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2 comments:
That's bogus.
My 10th graders get tested in March also. Our testing starts the same day and spans two weeks.
The kicker . . .
The science test covers 9-12 grade standards. They only get tested in the 10th grade year.
WTF is that all about?
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