Comments on: Time is right for national standards and assessments http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/02/time-is-right-for-national-standards-and-better-assessments/ Your source to discuss and learn about education in Atlanta, Georgia and the nation Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:31:49 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mark Pennington http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/02/time-is-right-for-national-standards-and-better-assessments/comment-page-1/#comment-14959 Mark Pennington Sun, 18 Oct 2009 02:47:06 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=1975#comment-14959 National standards may help, but effectively trained teachers in the science of diagnostic assessment will do more to improve the quality of education. Diagnostic assessments are essential instructional tools. However, many teachers resist using these tools because they can be time-consuming to administer, grade, record, and analyze. Some teachers avoid diagnostic assessments because these teachers exclusively focus on grade-level standards-based instruction or believe that remediation is (or was) the job of some other teacher. To be honest, some teachers resist diagnostic assessments because the data might induce them to differentiate instruction—a daunting task for any teacher. And some teachers resist diagnostic assessments because they fear that the data will be used by administrators to hold them accountable for individual student progress. Check out ten criteria for effective diagnostic ELA/reading assessments at http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/ten-criteria-for-effective-elareading-diagnostic-assessments/ and download free whole-class comprehensive consonant and vowel phonics assessments, three sight word assessments, a spelling-pattern assessment, a multi-level fluency assessment, six phonemic awareness assessments, a grammar assessment, and a mechanics assessment from the right column of this informative article. National standards may help, but effectively trained teachers in the science of diagnostic assessment will do more to improve the quality of education. Diagnostic assessments are essential instructional tools. However, many teachers resist using these tools because they can be time-consuming to administer, grade, record, and analyze. Some teachers avoid diagnostic assessments because these teachers exclusively focus on grade-level standards-based instruction or believe that remediation is (or was) the job of some other teacher. To be honest, some teachers resist diagnostic assessments because the data might induce them to differentiate instruction—a daunting task for any teacher. And some teachers resist diagnostic assessments because they fear that the data will be used by administrators to hold them accountable for individual student progress. Check out ten criteria for effective diagnostic ELA/reading assessments at http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/ten-criteria-for-effective-elareading-diagnostic-assessments/ and download free whole-class comprehensive consonant and vowel phonics assessments, three sight word assessments, a spelling-pattern assessment, a multi-level fluency assessment, six phonemic awareness assessments, a grammar assessment, and a mechanics assessment from the right column of this informative article.

]]> By: ScienceTeacher671 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/02/time-is-right-for-national-standards-and-better-assessments/comment-page-1/#comment-13246 ScienceTeacher671 Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:03:36 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=1975#comment-13246 This morning I've been watching a CNN report on Ron Clark's academy up there in Atlanta. I notice that the school integrates music and dance into all lessons. I've met Ron Clark and heard him speak, and he is charismatic, dynamic, enthusiastic, and it's obvious he is doing great things with his students. Of course, it's also a private school, and the school selects the students who attend. Although the students apparently would all be considered "at risk", they do <i>choose</i> to attend the school, which also requires parental commitments before the children may be admitted. I also noted that the tuition is approximately twice the average per pupil cost in Georgia (although many of the students are attending on scholarship). The school is very lively, but discipline appears to be strict and enforced, judging in part by the dress of the students and how well they wear their uniforms, and in part by the Contract of Obligation parents must sign. This morning I’ve been watching a CNN report on Ron Clark’s academy up there in Atlanta. I notice that the school integrates music and dance into all lessons.

I’ve met Ron Clark and heard him speak, and he is charismatic, dynamic, enthusiastic, and it’s obvious he is doing great things with his students. Of course, it’s also a private school, and the school selects the students who attend. Although the students apparently would all be considered “at risk”, they do choose to attend the school, which also requires parental commitments before the children may be admitted.

I also noted that the tuition is approximately twice the average per pupil cost in Georgia (although many of the students are attending on scholarship). The school is very lively, but discipline appears to be strict and enforced, judging in part by the dress of the students and how well they wear their uniforms, and in part by the Contract of Obligation parents must sign.

]]> By: FLAWoodLayer http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/02/time-is-right-for-national-standards-and-better-assessments/comment-page-1/#comment-13244 FLAWoodLayer Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:43:51 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=1975#comment-13244 Absolutely we need national standards but not just in math and reading but also science. People get scared when discussing national standards in science and social studies because of politics. The Chinese aren't afraid to discuss evolution but left in the hands of the states it may not get taught. No wonder we fall behind. However, we can teach these standards and not have to abandon the arts. The Japanese and Chinese send their teachers here for professional development because what their nations lack is innovation and creativity. We also need to do away with the summer vacation (don't abandon it shorten it) and eliminate block scheduling in schools that are low performing. If a teacher does not utilize block time efficiently, students lose to much class time and never address the curriculum fully. Poor use of block time in my opinion is one of the main reason for low scores on standardized tests. Absolutely we need national standards but not just in math and reading but also science. People get scared when discussing national standards in science and social studies because of politics. The Chinese aren’t afraid to discuss evolution but left in the hands of the states it may not get taught. No wonder we fall behind. However, we can teach these standards and not have to abandon the arts. The Japanese and Chinese send their teachers here for professional development because what their nations lack is innovation and creativity.

We also need to do away with the summer vacation (don’t abandon it shorten it) and eliminate block scheduling in schools that are low performing. If a teacher does not utilize block time efficiently, students lose to much class time and never address the curriculum fully. Poor use of block time in my opinion is one of the main reason for low scores on standardized tests.

]]> By: Toto: exposing the man behind the curtain http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/02/time-is-right-for-national-standards-and-better-assessments/comment-page-1/#comment-13224 Toto: exposing the man behind the curtain Sat, 03 Oct 2009 04:04:28 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=1975#comment-13224 Maureen, do you bother to check out the character of those you carry water for? This disgraced former governor is the LAST person citizens need to listen to. http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache:Zum38oC_k8AJ:www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-13837047.html+governor+bob+wise+mascia-frye&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=safari BTW. Since when does a Rockefeller need a government handout? "During this period, Wise responded to the economic challenges of the state by attempting to attract businesses through an extensive tax and infrastructure assistance program. In one instance, the state issued $215 million in grants to spur $1 billion investment in projects, such as the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute,..." Wikipedia Maureen, do you bother to check out the character of those you carry water for?
This disgraced former governor is the LAST person citizens need to listen to.

http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache:Zum38oC_k8AJ:www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-13837047.html+governor+bob+wise+mascia-frye&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=safari

BTW. Since when does a Rockefeller need a government handout?

“During this period, Wise responded to the economic challenges of the state by attempting to attract businesses through an extensive tax and infrastructure assistance program. In one instance, the state issued $215 million in grants to spur $1 billion investment in projects, such as the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute,…” Wikipedia

]]> By: Maureen's accountability metric http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/02/time-is-right-for-national-standards-and-better-assessments/comment-page-1/#comment-13223 Maureen's accountability metric Sat, 03 Oct 2009 03:21:50 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=1975#comment-13223 Did any of the esteemed speakers address the systemic lack of support we give the classroom teachers when it comes to addressing chronically disruptive students who may be the single biggest drain on teaching and learning? When that presenter comes on board, posts about them, because at least you know, agree or disagree, that presenter is addressing education issues with a sense of honesty and integrity. Brian Crosby, whom Maureen has featured, would be an example of this, since he dealt with the issue head on. Of course of the many, many ideas that Maureen has featured when it came to Crosby, addressing his views on discipline and chronically disruptive students wasn't one of them. Why are we not surprised? As far as Gov. Wise, he might as well join fellow politician Tom Delay on Dancing With The Stars, the way he's tap dancing around the real truth of education issues. Might as well add the AJC editorial board to the competition while we are at it. Of course they don't fit the "star" profile, especially considering the losses of AJC's subscription numbers and loss of respect in general, but I'm sure they can more than make up for it with their "tap dancing around the truth" nimbleness afoot. Did any of the esteemed speakers address the systemic lack of support we give the classroom teachers when it comes to addressing chronically disruptive students who may be the single biggest drain on teaching and learning?

When that presenter comes on board, posts about them, because at least you know, agree or disagree, that presenter is addressing education issues with a sense of honesty and integrity.

Brian Crosby, whom Maureen has featured, would be an example of this, since he dealt with the issue head on. Of course of the many, many ideas that Maureen has featured when it came to Crosby, addressing his views on discipline and chronically disruptive students wasn’t one of them.

Why are we not surprised?

As far as Gov. Wise, he might as well join fellow politician Tom Delay on Dancing With The Stars, the way he’s tap dancing around the real truth of education issues.

Might as well add the AJC editorial board to the competition while we are at it. Of course they don’t fit the “star” profile, especially considering the losses of AJC’s subscription numbers and loss of respect in general, but I’m sure they can more than make up for it with their “tap dancing around the truth” nimbleness afoot.

]]> By: Maureen's accountability metric http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/02/time-is-right-for-national-standards-and-better-assessments/comment-page-1/#comment-13222 Maureen's accountability metric Sat, 03 Oct 2009 02:46:37 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=1975#comment-13222 Since Wise would like to imply a total integration of the arts can be seamlessly accomplished, and that the emphasis on testing has no effect whatsoever on subjects outside of "the test," let's just give him a real world example that he can relate to, or more from the point, can't evade. Gov. Wise, when you were studying for your driver's license exam, "the test" as it were, did your instructor take the time to teach you how to make an origami car, and origami cones so you could "integrate the arts" into your parallel parking practice? I didn't think so. Since Wise would like to imply a total integration of the arts can be seamlessly accomplished, and that the emphasis on testing has no effect whatsoever on subjects outside of “the test,” let’s just give him a real world example that he can relate to, or more from the point, can’t evade.

Gov. Wise, when you were studying for your driver’s license exam, “the test” as it were, did your instructor take the time to teach you how to make an origami car, and origami cones so you could “integrate the arts” into your parallel parking practice?

I didn’t think so.

]]> By: ScienceTeacher671 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/02/time-is-right-for-national-standards-and-better-assessments/comment-page-1/#comment-13217 ScienceTeacher671 Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:35:02 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=1975#comment-13217 Somewhere back in about 3rd grade, we had a book or program that combined reading, geography, and social studies with music. Our teacher was a musician, had a piano in the classroom, and had us doing quite a bit of singing. Each unit in our reading book had stories about children in different countries and how they lived, and we also learned a song about that country. The custom in that school was that each class put on a play or other program once during the school year (I can't remember if it was just for the other classes in that grade or for the entire school; I'm sure we had more than 9 classes in the school but don't recall going to assembly more than once a month) - that year, at the end of the year, our class performed all the "songs from around the world". Somewhere back in about 3rd grade, we had a book or program that combined reading, geography, and social studies with music. Our teacher was a musician, had a piano in the classroom, and had us doing quite a bit of singing. Each unit in our reading book had stories about children in different countries and how they lived, and we also learned a song about that country.

The custom in that school was that each class put on a play or other program once during the school year (I can’t remember if it was just for the other classes in that grade or for the entire school; I’m sure we had more than 9 classes in the school but don’t recall going to assembly more than once a month) – that year, at the end of the year, our class performed all the “songs from around the world”.

]]> By: ScienceTeacher671 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/02/time-is-right-for-national-standards-and-better-assessments/comment-page-1/#comment-13204 ScienceTeacher671 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:38:17 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=1975#comment-13204 I agree that states should not be setting their own proficiency levels...by the way, Maureen, how did Georgia stack up in those comparisons with NAEP? I also agree that good teachers don't have to "teach to the test" if they are teaching well. (It also seems to me that if a lot of time is being used to teach reading, students could be reading about science, social studies, great literature, great people, etc., instead of reading silly stories that were invented for a reading book.) I agree that states should not be setting their own proficiency levels…by the way, Maureen, how did Georgia stack up in those comparisons with NAEP? I also agree that good teachers don’t have to “teach to the test” if they are teaching well.

(It also seems to me that if a lot of time is being used to teach reading, students could be reading about science, social studies, great literature, great people, etc., instead of reading silly stories that were invented for a reading book.)

]]> By: Reality 2 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/02/time-is-right-for-national-standards-and-better-assessments/comment-page-1/#comment-13203 Reality 2 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:10:30 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=1975#comment-13203 ...good teachers don’t need to teach to the test if they are teaching well . They can integrate the arts into their instruction. It is not, he said, an either/or situation" He may be correct, but there sure aren't many of those teachers out there. Integrating subject matters meaningfully is VERY difficult. it isn't just singing songs to help you memorize the multiplication table. …good teachers don’t need to teach to the test if they are teaching well . They can integrate the arts into their instruction. It is not, he said, an either/or situation” He may be correct, but there sure aren’t many of those teachers out there. Integrating subject matters meaningfully is VERY difficult. it isn’t just singing songs to help you memorize the multiplication table.

]]> By: jim d http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2009/10/02/time-is-right-for-national-standards-and-better-assessments/comment-page-1/#comment-13196 jim d Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:43:14 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/?p=1975#comment-13196 No he is not a reasonable man at all. Any reasonable person knows that abilities are only limited by those who try to test them. No he is not a reasonable man at all. Any reasonable person knows that abilities are only limited by those who try to test them.

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