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Standardized Tests: My Thoughts Continued

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Yesterday I began my thoughts on standardized testing. I discussed how I feel that the test results affect the teachers more than the students. I feel that standardized tests on some scale are not bad. Teachers should be accountable for what their students learn. Standardized test are somewhat accurate when determining how well a teacher is relaying information to students. However, the tests should not be the sole evaluation. When it comes to TVASS and achievement scores, teachers will have ‘off’ years when the results are lower. However, the few teachers that I know of that repeatedly receive inadequate scores … Continue reading →

Standardized Tests: My Thoughts

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Over the past couple of days, I have defined standardized tests. I have also listed the factors that are argued for and against standardized testing. I am now a kindergarten teacher and I do not have to deal with standardized testing on the same level as third through eighth grades. My class participates in Dibels testing, which is individually given more often in shorter intervals. However, I taught eighth grade for four years and participated in standardized testing each year. I feel that standardized testing in my district affects the students’ individual academics very little. The test results are not … Continue reading →

Pros of Standardized Testing

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My past two articles have discussed the factors against standardized testing. While it may seem that there are many cons to standardized testing, there are also pros. If standardized testing were all cons, I would hope that it would not still be around. Many agree that some type of assessment is needed to measure if children are learning the required material. This assessment is not just to test what a child has learned but more what a teacher has taught. It would be very easy to come in and ‘play’ with the students all day. Knowing that there will be … Continue reading →

Factors Against Standardized Testing Continued

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Yesterday, I defined standardized tests and began detailing why some believe that standardized tests are not fair. Today, I would like to continue the discussion by adding even more factors that do not support standardized testing. Some believe that the tests are unreliable due to score variations. A reliable test will produce the same results each time the test is taken. However, standardized tests must factor in a “measurement error”. The results may be different each time the test is taken due to the child’s ability to focus because of mental and emotional factors. Therefore, a child may be able … Continue reading →

Tips for Taking Tests

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One of the most dreaded tasks that a student may ever do in school is take a test. Taking a test can be make some students very nervous and anxious. Some students completely freeze up when they are given a test to complete. Some students even take courses on how to perform better on tests. While every person is different when it comes to test taking, there are some things that students can do to help reduce test anxiety and help increase test scores. When you first enter a college course, you often will be given a syllabus. Within it … Continue reading →

Ways to Increase Logical Thinking

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The recent educational focus has been placed on logical thinking skills. Logical thinking skills are based on reasoning and memory. In the past couple of articles, I have offered some tips and ideas for parents on how to enhance their child’s logical thinking. Many activities can be done in the form of a game. Children think that they are fun and also benefit from them. Another way to strengthen the logical thinking skills is through analogies. This activity is probably best to begin when your child is about five years old. An analogy is a relationship between a pair of … Continue reading →

More Ideas for Developing Logical Thinking

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I have discussed how many educators are now turning to the reasoning behind problems more than just simply asking for the answers. The ability for children to solve problems comes from two basic concepts. Those concepts are memory and reasoning. I had offered some ideas for parents to help their children enhance these skills at the ages of two and three. In this article those tips will continue for other ages. By the age of four most children can recall events in the form of memories. Children can remember places that they have been and people that they have seen. … Continue reading →

Developing Logical thinking

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Many tests, especially state standardized, are beginning to focus more greatly on the logic and reasoning of thought rather than regurgitating information. Teachers and students alike are learning that the how and why are equally as important as the what. A child’s ability to solve problems and think logically is based on two concepts: memory and reasoning. Memory is the ability to store and recall information. This ability typically develops when a baby is around six months old. As the baby’s memory develops and grows, he or she begins to be faced with situations that require logical thinking. The child … Continue reading →

Why Are Teachers “Afraid” of Portfolios?

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More and more information and stress can be seen on individualized student work and teaching methods. Teachers are now more than ever being asked to plan their lessons on an individual basis rather than a classroom basis. One method that is often thrown out to teachers to help keep their lessons and grading individualized is through student portfolios. Many teachers squirm at the idea of keeping a portfolio for each of their students. They are often very reluctant to begin portfolios as compared to some other ideas that they hear about. So why is it that teachers are often “scared” … Continue reading →

Television Test Prep

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Most school staff members and teachers will claim that students watch too much television. However, one middle school claims that television is the way to test preparation and learning. After the 2007 test scores showed William Wirt Middles School falling short both in English and math, the school decided a new review and test prep study was needed. Each Thursday, the school shows a one hour prerecorded lesson to its students. The teachers at the school alternate teaching the lesson. The lesson is televised to all classes and students in the school. This way the teachers can be assured that … Continue reading →