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We are almost done with PARCC testing....for this month anyways. We are giving one test session a day, but not on Mondays, so this coming Tuesday will be my last day for this month. Unfortunately, we'll have to do more testing in May, but for now, I'm just feeling so relieved that it's going to come to an end soon.
As the week wore on, it got easier. I knew which screens would time out and kick students out if I didn't get through them fast enough, so what caused high levels of anxiety on the first two days had pretty much subsided by day four.
Part of the problem with this testing is that I don't think it does what it says it will. I don't think it is a better measure of student learning than I could provide. As PARCC begins, I'm teaching my grad school students how to case study their students, how to collect data in many different ways, how to use their professional knowledge of authentic assessment to paint the best portrait of a student's strengths and areas of need.
And then there's PARCC, which causes so much stress for everyone involved: myself, our students, and all our our district leaders and admin who work together to make this test a reality. I've been in education for 12 years, and what stands out most to me from administering The Test are feelings of inadequacy. There isn't much that makes me feel this way anymore, because for the most part, I know what to expect. How is it that this test, one that I don't even believe in, has the power to induce feelings of inadequacy in an educator who has already spent 12 years in the field (and who plans to finish my career there, too?)
All that being said, I'm so thankful for the Slice of Life Challenge - all of our kids who are blogging have written a few posts about The Test, too. You'll have to check out Sydney's post about stress and scheduling changes. Or Alex's post about nervous feelings. Or even the technology glitches that come into play, from Frances.
All of this just leaves me wondering - is all the work that goes into this test worth the time away from authentic teaching and learning? And if it's not, what are we going to do about it? This is one reason I love blogging - getting to share my voice about important topics like this. I'm so glad the kids who are blogging along with me are learning about sharing their voice, too.
If it were up to me, the only kind of PARCC I'd have my kiddos slicing about is this one.
As the week wore on, it got easier. I knew which screens would time out and kick students out if I didn't get through them fast enough, so what caused high levels of anxiety on the first two days had pretty much subsided by day four.
Part of the problem with this testing is that I don't think it does what it says it will. I don't think it is a better measure of student learning than I could provide. As PARCC begins, I'm teaching my grad school students how to case study their students, how to collect data in many different ways, how to use their professional knowledge of authentic assessment to paint the best portrait of a student's strengths and areas of need.
And then there's PARCC, which causes so much stress for everyone involved: myself, our students, and all our our district leaders and admin who work together to make this test a reality. I've been in education for 12 years, and what stands out most to me from administering The Test are feelings of inadequacy. There isn't much that makes me feel this way anymore, because for the most part, I know what to expect. How is it that this test, one that I don't even believe in, has the power to induce feelings of inadequacy in an educator who has already spent 12 years in the field (and who plans to finish my career there, too?)
All that being said, I'm so thankful for the Slice of Life Challenge - all of our kids who are blogging have written a few posts about The Test, too. You'll have to check out Sydney's post about stress and scheduling changes. Or Alex's post about nervous feelings. Or even the technology glitches that come into play, from Frances.
All of this just leaves me wondering - is all the work that goes into this test worth the time away from authentic teaching and learning? And if it's not, what are we going to do about it? This is one reason I love blogging - getting to share my voice about important topics like this. I'm so glad the kids who are blogging along with me are learning about sharing their voice, too.
If it were up to me, the only kind of PARCC I'd have my kiddos slicing about is this one.
I so admire the professionalism that underscores this post! So often, it's easy for us to just complain about The Test, but your honest exploration and avoidance of blame highlight the issues with so much more clarity. Good luck as you approach the end!
ReplyDeleteThis is perfectly written! And the kids' posts add so much!
ReplyDeleteI also love how you added the kids' posts! I can't wait to get back to my poetry and book clubs! :)
ReplyDeleteMichelle, I am a first year teacher, a literacy interventionist at a middle school. I enjoyed reading what you wrote about PARCC and appreciate your fair way of addressing this. I have witnessed much anxiety and hope your students, my students and all will soon weather this storm and clearer heads will prevail. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteMichelle, I am a first year teacher, a literacy interventionist at a middle school. I enjoyed reading what you wrote about PARCC and appreciate your fair way of addressing this. I have witnessed much anxiety and hope your students, my students and all will soon weather this storm and clearer heads will prevail. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteAmen, sister.
ReplyDeleteWell said. Administering it to special education students and English Language Learners who struggle to write a sentence let alone an essay, is a new level of terrible. The technical difficulties we experienced only increased the helplessness we all felt!
ReplyDeleteWell said. Administering it to special education students and English Language Learners who struggle to write a sentence let alone an essay, is a new level of terrible. The technical difficulties we experienced only increased the helplessness we all felt!
ReplyDelete