GothamSchools — daily independent reporting on NYC public schools

To answer your question, it’s hard to say for my reality. Being a 3rd grade teacher like yourself, but in an ESL CTT, and being at a school with a majority ELL population and students with special needs in danger of additional restructuring due to AYP, I know how important it is that my students (along with the other students in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classes) do well on these tests. My students can sense it through the school and through us as well.

I personally feel that building up intrinsic motivation even in the small ways helps. Before my students came into my classroom for the last three days of testing, I stopped them at the door and told them all that there’s a new “secret password” phrase: “I can do it.” Every student that came into my classroom said those words before coming in. Also, during test prep, in an attempt to excite them a little about another boring test prep review, I start doing a chant and a call-and-response to build their confidence up. Breathing exercises and making sure my students ate breakfast downstairs helped as well.

Despite it all though, some students just aren’t able to handle the pressures or stresses of knowing that if they don’t pass this test, they can’t go on to the next grade with all their friends. I saw one girl in one class throwing up, another student in another class crying in the hallway. I had a parent call me up on Monday telling me how her daughter was rebelling against her assistance and one mother told me that her son’s heart was beating quite fast at times the night before. It seriously breaks my heart to see what the pressures have been doing to MY EIGHT-year-olds. I’m not even mentioning the other factors affecting my students’ psyches from home, their environment, and elsewhere.

It just doesn’t make sense for ANY 8-year-old to start dealing with this kind of life-or-death anxiety so early in their lives. Then again, with all these factors playing a part in the test-taking days and in all our students’ lives, it wouldn’t make much sense to ride a child’s future, a school’s future, and MY future as an educator on such a flawed, arbitrary, manipulated, and possibly biased (culturally or elsewhere) measure given at only ONE time. What do you think, Ruben?

It sounds like our schools are pretty similar. Our AYP’s for our special ed students and ELL’s are our biggest focus. It certainly creates something of a trickle down effect, but I don’t think that’s unavoidable. Too often the test is used as a threat (i.e. if you don’t pay attention you’re not going to pass that test!). This isn’t useful. Then there’s the numerous practice exams and the test prep lessons that build up anticipation for the test as well. These may be counterproductive too in a way.

I agree with you about the heartbreak of watching 8 year-olds overcome by test anxiety. There are definitely moments where I feel the whole exercise is totally inhumane. But again, I have to wonder if there’s ways for teachers and schools to create a better climate that alleviates these stresses. Although I would guess that even schools like PS 6 and Midtown West have their students who struggle with test anxiety.

As for whether these tests should be used to assess students and teachers given their flaws and the effects of test anxiety? I would point out that there are plenty of high need students and schools who perform well on these tests. These tests still need a lot of improvement, but my main issue with them is that they’re too easy. In any case, I’d argue the most important factor on a student’s performance on these tests is whether or not they’re prepared (i.e. on grade level). That means that in spite of everything they’re still valid. Far from perfect? Yes. But still valid.

Let’s translate what Ruben wrote:

I, I, I, me, me, me, me, me. Myself, Myself, Myself, Myself, Myself, Myself, Myself. Look at me, Look at me, Look at me, Look at me, Look at me, Look at me, Look at me, Look at me.

In fairness,it is a diary, so it has to be about him to a certain degree. I think it’s more fair to question his assumption that juice and crackers are a quality breakfast choice. Revving the kids up on high fructose corn syrup who usually can’t sit still? A snack in mid test, maybe. Apple slices, raisins, carrots and other healthy choices can be obtained easily enough from food services. Just tell the Principal his scores will go up if he spends some $ on it. That ought to do the trick. Probably get free breakfast before the test as well. May be E4E could donate some drinks, appetizers, and Kindles (for when the kids finish.) If they sign up on facebook (press like) so E4E can continue to inflate their membership and influence. Since according to Gotham they are a lobby group “…and the lobbying efforts of groups like Education Reform Now and Educators4Excellence,” I guess the number of folks one would expect at a backyard barbecue turns you into a lobby group.

e.

Its so cute when the new teachers are so impressed with themselves when they come up with a new trick. I’m not mad at him. I work hard at my craft as well (I feel that I have always been better at creating the plan than executing the plan), but I never felt the need to share what I plan or do with my kids with the whole world (just administrators or teachers who ask first). When I was learning to teach, you developed a teaching style and perfected it. There was no need to run and tell everyone the things you are trying in the classroom, because what you do may or may not fit with the teaching style of your colleagues. Maybe the lack of sharing with colleagues is one of the reasons that many new teachers lose their love for teaching. I will add this. In my building, the young teachers that “toot their own horn” are looking to do a couple years in the classroom, and move into administration quick. Hopefully BRONX TEACHER keeps the excitement and keeps fighting the good fight INSIDE the classroom.

About wanting the test to be “harder”, Ruben, did you get your wish yesterday?

How nice that you ME$ME people threw a cocktail party instead of attending the rally today.  Nice priorities, you did exactly what Gates would have wanted.