"During the month of September, your child will take standardized tests to evaluate their skills in reading and math. September 14th, the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIEBELS) will be administered to all K-5 students."
I got this memo on Friday, September 11th.
I was not asked if I would like my child to be part of the testing as a kindergartner. I was told he was going to be tested. I was given 3 days, over a weekend, to try to make a educated decision about this testing program. It was not stated that, of course, my child does not have to participate. I, of course, know this but many new parents may not. In fact, they do need your permission to test your child.
They are testing literacy before they can read? Testing math before kindergarten is 2 weeks old. They want to give a verbal test to my kid with Apraxia. Anyone want to guess how that will go?
No, I don't think kids need to be labeled and tracked at this young of an age whether they have special needs or not. No, I don't think a one-size-fits-all test should be the great determiner of my child's supposed intelligence. No, I don't want someone labeling my kid when he is 5 and having that determine how people feel and treat him down the road.
And, yes, I do think teachers can make their own assessments of an individual kid's strengths and weaknesses if allowed to do their jobs without being hassled by ding bat administrators to do standardized test all the time!
I informed them that Shea would not be participating.
Should I Stay Or Should I Go.
6 years ago
4 comments:
I totally agree with you! I don't know if our school district did this today or not! Now, I am aggravated if they did!
They gave my daughter a battery of verbal tests about 8 months ago and she is severely apraxic. Their excuse is "it's a standardized test and we can't alter it or it won't be valid".
Sometimes I think our schools are being run by a bunch of educated fools!
Keep fighting! I will too!
Pattie
http://teachmetotalk.blogspot.com
it's tough isn't it. Will they give him speech therapy (if he needs it) if they do not conduct testing?? In my opinion, and if he needs testing for special services, then a private, outside of school, neurologist is the answer.. And you don't have to share this information with the school system.
Hi
I'm sorry to hear you call "ding bats" the educators that are TRYING to follow the countless state and federal requirements (that NO educator was a part of crafting). Unfortunately standardized tests are what have been required of us by legislators that voters have voted in.
Do you use the words "ding bat" about educators then - post about adults being roll models of civil behavior?
No, ding bats because they give a parent 3 days notice and no real information about why they should participate leaving parents wondering who is making the decisions.
Ding bats because they should be getting parental permission but aren't.
And, ding bats because they let Test Crazy administrators keep adding more and more testing on to the youngest learners. This test in not for WASL, it is something different. And, additional.
For those who know me, I am a rabid supporter of teachers and for more funding for our schools. But, No, I don't like standardized testing.
So, I use my blog to vent my frustrations because, again, it is my blog. You seem to leave comments to vent. I always feel better after wards, do you? Maybe we have something in common after all.
Wish you were brave enough not to hide behind "anonymous" though!
Have a fan-tabulous day!
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