Wolcott's Weekly "What's Up"
Office of Teaching and Learning 9.29.2014
Quote of Note
- Stevie Quate & John McDermott, 2009
Congrats to Rachel Manjarres!
Myths About Testing
In this Education Week article, Sherah Betts Carr (Mercer University) and Anaya Bryson (a Gwinnett County, GA teacher) say that since No Child Left Behind, many teachers feel overwhelmed with the number of tests their students must take and the way mandated state tests overlap with district and classroom assessments. It seems that all the public and the media care about are test scores. “The accountability waters are as choppy as ever,” say Carr and Bryson, “but teachers don’t have to drown in them.” To maintain their sanity, educators need to push back on three myths:
- Myth #1: Tests don’t allow schools to teach higher-order material. It’s true that many standardized tests focus primarily on students’ ability to recall facts, proofs, and vocabulary and contain many abstractly constructed questions. But it’s not true that students will be harmed if teachers spend classroom time on deeper concepts and help students develop higher-order reasoning skills. Teachers need to stick to good pedagogy and effective curriculum, say Carr and Bryson, helping students connect concepts and skills in different subject areas and relating the curriculum to everyday life.
- Myth #2: Test scores define a teacher’s worth. Educators need to look beyond raw test data and focus on their students’ growth, say Carr and Bryson: “Teachers should document what they feel they’ve done well, identify what areas in their practice need improvement, and explore the steps required for growth.” They also need to make good use of the amazing array of resources available today.
- Myth #3: Teachers are powerless when it comes to testing. “Ultimately, what happens in the classroom must be about the students,” say Carr and Bryson. Teachers need to be realistic about what they can change and what they can’t, and continue to teach caring and collaboration to prepare students for life in a multicultural society. “They must concentrate on how their students learn, reflect on their practices, and seek the support they need to improve their instructional skills.”
“Debunking Three Assessment Myths” by Sherah Betts Carr and Anaya Bryson in Education Week, September 17, 2014 (Vol. 34, #4, p. 28, 24), www.edweek.org
PLEASE NOTE: THIS SYNOPSIS PROVIDED BY KIM MARSHALL WWW.MARSHALLMEMO.COM
WEEKLY RESOURCES
Calkins Norming Sessions
Monday, September 29 8:00-11:00 am
- Kindergarten: Edgewood, Sipley, Willow Creek
Monday, September 29 12:30-3:30 pm
- First Grade: Edgewood, Sipley, Willow Creek (Katie Matthews)
Tuesday, September 30 8:00-11:00 am
- Bilingual Self-Contained: All Elementary Schools
Tuesday, September 30 12:30-3:30 pm
- Sixth Grade: Edgewood, Sipley, Willow Creek
Wednesday, October 1 8:00-11:00 am
- Second Grade: Edgewood, Sipley, Willow Creek
Wednesday, October 1 12:30-3:30 pm
- Third Grade: Edgewood, Sipley, Willow Creek (Don Mrozik)
Thursday, October 2 8:00-11:00 am
- Fourth Grade: Edgewood, Sipley, Willow Creek
Thursday, October 2 12:30-3:30 pm
- Fifth Grade: Edgewood, Sipley, Willow Creek (Tanya Hughes)
Monday, October 6 8:00-11:00 am
- Kindergarten: Meadowview, Murphy, Goodrich (Regina Leeberg)
Monday, October 6 12:30-3:30 pm
- First Grade: Meadowview, Murphy, Goodrich
Tuesday, October 7 8:00-11:00 am
- Sixth Grade: Meadowview, Murphy, Goodrich (Justin Warnke)
Wednesday, October 8 8:00-11:00 am
- Second Grade: Meadowview, Murphy, Goodrich (Sue Futterer)
Wednesday, October 8 12:30-3:30 pm
- Third Grade: Meadowview, Murphy, Goodrich
Thursday, October 9 8:00-11:00 am
- Fourth Grade: Meadowview, Murphy, Goodrich (Paul Scaletta)
Thursday, October 9 12:30-3:30 pm
- Fifth Grade: Meadowview, Murphy, Goodrich
Principal To Do List
- Seven Keys Training at PDC on 10/9 & 10/10 Please send names to Kim (space available if you would like to send more than 3)
- Enjoy the week!
- Stay strong and FOCUSED!
On the Radar
- ELL Family Night 11/19
- Family Reading Night in November (FYI: Woodridge PD has Spanish speaking officers who would love to read if you have a need)
Greg Wolcott
Email: wolcottg@woodridge68.org
Website: www.woodridge68.org
Location: 7925 Janes Avenue, Woodridge, IL, United States
Phone: 630.967.2035
Twitter: @TeachLearn68