Putting Standardized Tests to the Test
A teacher blogger uses three examples from a recent standardized test to demonstrate the disconnect between a test's stated objective and what a test actually measures. Read Full Post >
All Blog Posts With testing Tag or Category
June 14, 2010
June 11, 2010
Testing Accountability Causing Teachers to Cheat?
With standardized tests gaining increased importance in education policy, experts say teachers have increasingly been helping their students cheat on the tests. Read Full Post >
June 08, 2010
From Castles to Factories
Dear Diane, I couldn't resist this piece from the Rev. John Thomas of the Chicago Theological Seminary, entitled "It's Not OK to Hate Teachers." When you travel across the country through numerous county seat towns and cities, it's easy to see what was important to those who established those comm... Read Full Post >
June 08, 2010
When Half-Right Is Good Enough
A disgruntled Brooklyn teacher blows the whistle on questionable scoring practices on standardized tests in New York. Read Full Post >
June 01, 2010
Deconstructing NAEP Reading Scores for Cities
Dear Deborah, This year the federal testing program (the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP) expanded to include 18 urban districts. The testing of urban districts is known as TUDA (or, Trial Urban District Assessment). TUDA was launched in 2002, in response to a request by the Co... Read Full Post >
May 26, 2010
Good Schooling Is Built on Respect
Dear Diane, I saw some wonderful little schools in California last week and return feeling more optimistic about the survival of the kind of schooling I treasure. But I also spoke to many beleaguered educators who, as you noted, are feeling the brunt of the "de-formers" and the media barrage agains... Read Full Post >
May 25, 2010
Just Say No to the Race to the Top
Dear Deborah, As I have traveled the country, from Boston to Los Angeles and points in between, I have met thousands of teachers who work in our nation's public schools. The overwhelming mood is one of demoralization, and, in some cases, despair. They thought that President Obama would break free f... Read Full Post >
May 24, 2010
Proportion of ELLs in L.A. Scoring Proficient in English Dips
The proportion of ELLs in Los Angeles scoring proficient in English dipped slightly in 2009 over the previous year. Read Full Post >
May 20, 2010
New Urban NAEP Results Out: 8th Graders See Small Gains
New NAEP results show that 8th graders in large cities posted small gains in reading over the past two years. Read Full Post >
May 20, 2010
Change the Conversation on Teaching
Dear Diane, Reading The New York Times Magazine pieces on medicine is always intriguing. Education and medicine are often compared—in ways that remind me how little our frame for considering teaching is realistic. The other night I heard several very good "educators" on C-SPAN answering quest... Read Full Post >
