The last couple of weeks have been very interesting when it comes to understanding the subject of (English education). There seems to be so many contradictions according to the articles we have read. At times I have felt both “confused” and “frustrated” because I am just beginning to understand how overwhelming America’s education system really is. It is obvious to me, based on the readings from the past two weeks, that classroom teachers and legislators have different goals for students. I wonder if politics and standards will always get in the way of students educational experience. Students need to be able to learn how to read and write in a way that is beneficial to them. I believe there is a process of creativity and discovery
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In the Unites States of America, data driven assessments seem to be the authoritative force that determines how the subject of English is taught, as well as other subjects. Student’s abilities to take-in, process, and relay information they have read is no longer important; only the answers they produce, if they are correct, according to our politicians and education hierarchy’s. There is so much more for students to experience in their English classes. They should not be overwhelmed and consumed by tests that stand in the way of their experience of learning how to read and write for pleasure. What about those students who do not perform well on test and fail them routinely? Are we going to consider them to be any less smart than those students who can pass them? According to Kristin L. Main, the author of Teaching Beyond the Test: The Possibility of Success, we are introduced to students who have experienced academic failure because of their literacy abilities according to an assessment they were required to take in order to graduate from high school. According to Main: “students need to receive the immediate positive feedback. This is something that literacy test cannot do.” (Main, 2008, p.47). Situations like this have become all too familiar for students in the U.S. The pressure to perform for data-driven tests can be overwhelming. As a teacher, I definitely see how …show more content…
If these problems continue, I believe that America is in for an unfortunate surprise when it comes to the subject of English education. There is value in the learning process. Within this process comes intricate and delicate learning experiences that cannot be taught by standards, or data driven assessments; they can only be taught by the teachers that take the time to establish strong relationships with their students as well as their parents. As a teacher I cannot help but to think of the question that Irwin and Knodle stated, “can there be a happy medium in satisfying the needs curricular mandates and allowing students the time they need to make connections with the writing they produce.” (Irwin, 2008, p. 45). I believe with time, we will see whether or not this is a
In the Unites States of America, data driven assessments seem to be the authoritative force that determines how the subject of English is taught, as well as other subjects. Student’s abilities to take-in, process, and relay information they have read is no longer important; only the answers they produce, if they are correct, according to our politicians and education hierarchy’s. There is so much more for students to experience in their English classes. They should not be overwhelmed and consumed by tests that stand in the way of their experience of learning how to read and write for pleasure. What about those students who do not perform well on test and fail them routinely? Are we going to consider them to be any less smart than those students who can pass them? According to Kristin L. Main, the author of Teaching Beyond the Test: The Possibility of Success, we are introduced to students who have experienced academic failure because of their literacy abilities according to an assessment they were required to take in order to graduate from high school. According to Main: “students need to receive the immediate positive feedback. This is something that literacy test cannot do.” (Main, 2008, p.47). Situations like this have become all too familiar for students in the U.S. The pressure to perform for data-driven tests can be overwhelming. As a teacher, I definitely see how …show more content…
If these problems continue, I believe that America is in for an unfortunate surprise when it comes to the subject of English education. There is value in the learning process. Within this process comes intricate and delicate learning experiences that cannot be taught by standards, or data driven assessments; they can only be taught by the teachers that take the time to establish strong relationships with their students as well as their parents. As a teacher I cannot help but to think of the question that Irwin and Knodle stated, “can there be a happy medium in satisfying the needs curricular mandates and allowing students the time they need to make connections with the writing they produce.” (Irwin, 2008, p. 45). I believe with time, we will see whether or not this is a