Re: [MOSAIC] summatives
It's the same in Illinois. In my district we are developing quarterly tests plus monthly tests plus we take MAPs 3 times per year and our state test. If we're not testing then we are preparing for a test or being pulled out of the classroom to create tests. If this is the way testing is going,I hope that the information gained from the tests are used productive and positive way. What are some ways that you or anyone has been able to use it for good? Rachel Worthington. On Dec 27, 2011, at 9:15 AM, DONNA FOX donn...@optonline.net wrote: Just to piggyback on what everybody is writing - its the same here in New Jersey. My husband, inlaws and myself are all teachers in various school districts throughout the state. We do nothing but test, test, test. My husband teaches ESL in a urban high school. Between high school HESPA ( our state test), ESL Access and the proctoring he needs to do for various other tests there are months he has missed taking his classes for 18 days! In my school district they are requiring our teachers to create common assessments (both formative and summative) for the new CCS at every grade level. UGH! I agree with one of the other comments: talk the talk, but walk your own walk! It's important to keep the creative and fun activities alive in your classes. When your students are grown its not the the tests they will remember, but rather the teachers that inspired them and made learning fun! Donna Gr 4 NJ On Mon, Dec 26, 2011 at 11:23 PM, Debbie BROWNFIELD wrote: I whole heartedly agree!!!Debbie To: mosaic@literacyworkshop.org From: kea...@aol.com Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:29:16 -0500 Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] summatives Brenda, I wholeheartedly agree with you that all this RTI required testing is worse than what came about under NCLB and AYP. We have to probe tier 2 kids every 2 weeks in addition to all the formative and summative assessments. Teachers in my district all feel that we just don't teach anymore. We do assessments that bear no relationship to our curriculum and then teach things that have lesser value (ie. fluency rather than comprehension) because it is easier to measure in a standardized way. I am just sadden by what the children are losing out on. Kathy -Original Message- From: Brenda White-Keller brenda...@sbcglobal.net To: mosaic mosaic@literacyworkshop.org Sent: Mon, Dec 26, 2011 2:52 pm Subject: [MOSAIC] summatives My district mandates a formative (district made with teacher input) every 3-4 weeks, and a summative or trimester test before report cards. We use a program called Measures that allows you to see how your class performed overall and by individual standards. I feel like we test, test, test, test. The district also pulls the trimester scores and compares schools. Unfortunately they are comparing EO schools to Title 1 schools and the latter don't fare as well. Bah Humbug...for testing. Yes, the info drives the curr. but I feel we are cheating the students in so many ways. I just don't agree to teaching to the test. Probably didn't answer your question, but it felt good to share. Brenda CA/4 ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive
Re: [MOSAIC] summatives
Just to piggyback on what everybody is writing - its the same here in New Jersey. My husband, inlaws and myself are all teachers in various school districts throughout the state. We do nothing but test, test, test. My husband teaches ESL in a urban high school. Between high school HESPA ( our state test), ESL Access and the proctoring he needs to do for various other tests there are months he has missed taking his classes for 18 days! In my school district they are requiring our teachers to create common assessments (both formative and summative) for the new CCS at every grade level. UGH! I agree with one of the other comments: talk the talk, but walk your own walk! It's important to keep the creative and fun activities alive in your classes. When your students are grown its not the the tests they will remember, but rather the teachers that inspired them and made learning fun! Donna Gr 4 NJ On Mon, Dec 26, 2011 at 11:23 PM, Debbie BROWNFIELD wrote: I whole heartedly agree!!!Debbie To: mosaic@literacyworkshop.org From: kea...@aol.com Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:29:16 -0500 Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] summatives Brenda, I wholeheartedly agree with you that all this RTI required testing is worse than what came about under NCLB and AYP. We have to probe tier 2 kids every 2 weeks in addition to all the formative and summative assessments. Teachers in my district all feel that we just don't teach anymore. We do assessments that bear no relationship to our curriculum and then teach things that have lesser value (ie. fluency rather than comprehension) because it is easier to measure in a standardized way. I am just sadden by what the children are losing out on. Kathy -Original Message- From: Brenda White-Keller brenda...@sbcglobal.net To: mosaic mosaic@literacyworkshop.org Sent: Mon, Dec 26, 2011 2:52 pm Subject: [MOSAIC] summatives My district mandates a formative (district made with teacher input) every 3-4 weeks, and a summative or trimester test before report cards. We use a program called Measures that allows you to see how your class performed overall and by individual standards. I feel like we test, test, test, test. The district also pulls the trimester scores and compares schools. Unfortunately they are comparing EO schools to Title 1 schools and the latter don't fare as well. Bah Humbug...for testing. Yes, the info drives the curr. but I feel we are cheating the students in so many ways. I just don't agree to teaching to the test. Probably didn't answer your question, but it felt good to share. Brenda CA/4 ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive
[MOSAIC] summatives
My district mandates a formative (district made with teacher input) every 3-4 weeks, and a summative or trimester test before report cards. We use a program called Measures that allows you to see how your class performed overall and by individual standards. I feel like we test, test, test, test. The district also pulls the trimester scores and compares schools. Unfortunately they are comparing EO schools to Title 1 schools and the latter don't fare as well. Bah Humbug...for testing. Yes, the info drives the curr. but I feel we are cheating the students in so many ways. I just don't agree to teaching to the test. Probably didn't answer your question, but it felt good to share. Brenda CA/4 ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive
Re: [MOSAIC] summatives
Brenda, I wholeheartedly agree with you that all this RTI required testing is worse than what came about under NCLB and AYP. We have to probe tier 2 kids every 2 weeks in addition to all the formative and summative assessments. Teachers in my district all feel that we just don't teach anymore. We do assessments that bear no relationship to our curriculum and then teach things that have lesser value (ie. fluency rather than comprehension) because it is easier to measure in a standardized way. I am just sadden by what the children are losing out on. Kathy -Original Message- From: Brenda White-Keller brenda...@sbcglobal.net To: mosaic mosaic@literacyworkshop.org Sent: Mon, Dec 26, 2011 2:52 pm Subject: [MOSAIC] summatives My district mandates a formative (district made with teacher input) every 3-4 weeks, and a summative or trimester test before report cards. We use a program called Measures that allows you to see how your class performed overall and by individual standards. I feel like we test, test, test, test. The district also pulls the trimester scores and compares schools. Unfortunately they are comparing EO schools to Title 1 schools and the latter don't fare as well. Bah Humbug...for testing. Yes, the info drives the curr. but I feel we are cheating the students in so many ways. I just don't agree to teaching to the test. Probably didn't answer your question, but it felt good to share. Brenda CA/4 ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive
Re: [MOSAIC] summatives
I whole heartedly agree!!!Debbie To: mosaic@literacyworkshop.org From: kea...@aol.com Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:29:16 -0500 Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] summatives Brenda, I wholeheartedly agree with you that all this RTI required testing is worse than what came about under NCLB and AYP. We have to probe tier 2 kids every 2 weeks in addition to all the formative and summative assessments. Teachers in my district all feel that we just don't teach anymore. We do assessments that bear no relationship to our curriculum and then teach things that have lesser value (ie. fluency rather than comprehension) because it is easier to measure in a standardized way. I am just sadden by what the children are losing out on. Kathy -Original Message- From: Brenda White-Keller brenda...@sbcglobal.net To: mosaic mosaic@literacyworkshop.org Sent: Mon, Dec 26, 2011 2:52 pm Subject: [MOSAIC] summatives My district mandates a formative (district made with teacher input) every 3-4 weeks, and a summative or trimester test before report cards. We use a program called Measures that allows you to see how your class performed overall and by individual standards. I feel like we test, test, test, test. The district also pulls the trimester scores and compares schools. Unfortunately they are comparing EO schools to Title 1 schools and the latter don't fare as well. Bah Humbug...for testing. Yes, the info drives the curr. but I feel we are cheating the students in so many ways. I just don't agree to teaching to the test. Probably didn't answer your question, but it felt good to share. Brenda CA/4 ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive
Re: [MOSAIC] summatives
Brenda and Kathy, Here is my optimistic but absolutely serious question. Is it possible for us to play the game, do a half-hearted job of what is being required us in terms of summatives , desperately trying to move level 2 to level 3 , pressure pressure pressure, etc. AND still be true to what we believe is good teaching? I think I am beginning to do that more and more because I am so adamant that this testing movement is so sad for the children. I am happy to say that it is easier than I thought (to talk the talk but walk my own walk) and I feel I am a much better teacher if I do follow my heart and teach as I think the children want to be taught, (without telling anyone!)The one thing I can't get around is the exorbitant amount of time I seem to be out of my class doing collaborative work around the summatives! I want to just teach!! So, I find myself doing my own little silent rebellion and focusing on formative, the day day good teaching that I love so much. Your comments would be greatly appreciated. Also, can you tell me what your acronyms stand for? I am sure I will kick myself for not guessing but I am lazy tonight! Julia -Original Message- From: kea...@aol.com Sent: Monday, December 26, 2011 9:29 PM To: mosaic@literacyworkshop.org Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] summatives Brenda, I wholeheartedly agree with you that all this RTI required testing is worse than what came about under NCLB and AYP. We have to probe tier 2 kids every 2 weeks in addition to all the formative and summative assessments. Teachers in my district all feel that we just don't teach anymore. We do assessments that bear no relationship to our curriculum and then teach things that have lesser value (ie. fluency rather than comprehension) because it is easier to measure in a standardized way. I am just sadden by what the children are losing out on. Kathy -Original Message- From: Brenda White-Keller brenda...@sbcglobal.net To: mosaic mosaic@literacyworkshop.org Sent: Mon, Dec 26, 2011 2:52 pm Subject: [MOSAIC] summatives My district mandates a formative (district made with teacher input) every 3-4 weeks, and a summative or trimester test before report cards. We use a program called Measures that allows you to see how your class performed overall and by individual standards. I feel like we test, test, test, test. The district also pulls the trimester scores and compares schools. Unfortunately they are comparing EO schools to Title 1 schools and the latter don't fare as well. Bah Humbug...for testing. Yes, the info drives the curr. but I feel we are cheating the students in so many ways. I just don't agree to teaching to the test. Probably didn't answer your question, but it felt good to share. Brenda CA/4 ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive ___ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive
