that Proposition 227 improved standardized test scores when it passed. Even if it was, which many studies disagree over, it is not beneficial anymore. It is outdated. Proposition 227 was passed 18 years ago – before the iPhone existed, before we had our first Black president, before we created laws against smoking. Our world has changed in ways that would have been unfathomable in 1998. And so have our education systems. Studies have been conducted, tests have been analyzed, and we were wrong.…
The first virtual math manipulative I would like to discuss is the virtual base ten blocks. Base ten blocks are a very versatile manipulative and can be used with many math concepts. The biggest advantage the virtual base ten blocks have over the physical base ten blocks is that the virtual ones require no storage space in the classroom. The second advantages is those with less dexterity can manipulate the virtual base ten blocks easier than the physical base ten blocks. However, a major…
The achievement of these student and teachers is measured only by a students’ performance on an annual multiple-choice reading and math test. Teachers are increasingly only teaching “to the test” due to the common fear that their students will perform badly resulting in their termination. How can you not argue that by teaching to the test, many students fail to receive an appropriate and well-rounded education? Due to the intense focus on math and reading proficiency, fewer resources…
per day. In his article he writes, “It getting to the point where a letter with no misspelled words is the exception.” In order to get another person's opinion on this subject I interview my father, Christopher Mann. Weekly word lists and spelling tests were once a part of growing up. My dad was eliminated in the first round of the school spelling bee, where everyone had to compete, over the word “orchestra.” For my fifth grade year our school did not even have a spelling bee. With this new…
An incident involving cheating is taking the attention of several teachers and parents alike. Before you jump to condemn the students, it is important to understand the pressure-cooker that is American high school. With college acceptance rates going down to 6% and valedictorians with 4.0 GPAs, students are being forced to perform at higher levels than ever before. Passing AP exams, excelling in extracurricular activities, and training perfectionist tendencies are no longer hoped for, but…
Good Grades Paying Off Schools in different states are paying students for good grades. Paying students for good grades does not sound like a bad idea, but it is. It is a bad idea because students with good grades will only work for the money and not the real value of education. Students should not be paid for good grades because it increases pressure on teachers, starts conflict between students and, the money can be spent on better things. Rewarding students for good grades would intensify…
annual nationwide assessment of students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. It is designed to test students’ literacy and numeracy skills, as well as provide feedback to schools and school faculty regarding student performance in comparison to other students across Australia and the national curriculum. NAPLAN appears to be a valuable resource on paper, but does it really perform like it claims? The simple answer is no. The test is simply not as beneficial as the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and…
heightened accountability between schools and districts and show which schools were lacking or failing to meet “adequate yearly progress”. Often in today’s schools, students will ask, “Will this be on the test?” if the answer is no, most students stop paying attention. This culture of teaching to the test can even…
away from the fact that I still hate them. As I sit here at 9:30 p.m. beginning my fifth attempt at writing a good essay that is due tomorrow for a formal assessment grade, I am stressed. And this is how it goes for nearly every test, whether it’s an exam or a chapter test for my geometry class. Since I just began high school, people have been telling me about the importance of doing well on the exams we take each semester. I already knew this, of course, but I realized that they were more…
Is Year Long Schooling Good? Do you think year long schooling is good? Well only four of the kids in my class thought so. Does that change your opinion? If not read this, im sure it will. Were not only thinking about the kids by the way, this could affect the school in a negative way also. If there is year long schooling, schools will be hurting. If we have it then there will be no time for maintenance for the school. With no cleaning up, the school be less sanitized and the kids will…