The day the actual CCSS tests arrive is the day we throw the CCSS out the window. We already know parts of the CCSS don't matter-- cooperative learning will never be on the test, nor will any true close reading (which takes more than one quick, time-crunched look at a chunk of disconnected text).
What we really need is for the tests not to be linked to student and teacher fates. The fact that the tests will be high stakes (the highest stakes ever for tests in this country) guarantees that we all will, in fact, shortly be teaching to those tests. The CCSS were sold as a good predictor of what would be on the test, but we've already seen this movie, and in it, the tests turn out to be a hodge-podge of badly designed trick questions only nominally related to the standards. Bottom line--tests first, tests last, tests and standards at the same time, we'll still be facing the same problems; making up paperwork to make our curriculum's look aligned while we scramble for any materials that give our students an extra edge on the useless tests.
Check out the blog post. He makes several other logical points.
Why would anyone pay you to continue this "blog?" As far as I can tell this is 99% a website that mainly reposts someone else's work, posts a video from one of our tv newscasts, goes to Joplin Police Department and pulls out the DUI arrests and posting court documents like it is some sort of breaking news. When you do actually exert some actual journalistic effort you are so caught up in your own personal drama it colors your story with shadiness. Here is a prime example - who's words are these? "Today, thanks to school administrators and board members who had a dream, and to the people of the world who made that dream come true, school bells will ring again in Joplin." YOURS!
ReplyDeleteIf you want kids to learn real stuff and teachers to teach real stuff, you can't pin careers (both academic and professional) to these tests.
ReplyDelete