Blackboard Discussion Forum

Blackboard Discussion Forum: Teaching to the Test

October 22, 2005 Workshop Reflection

Forum: October 22 Workshop Reflection	Times Read: 9
Date: 10-19-2005 12:45
Author: Leonard, Pauline <pleonard@woodard.latech.edu>
Subject October 22 Workshop: Time for Reflection


After reading the article, "Teaching to the Test: An Expression to Eliminate", respond to the following question: Can EPAS facilitate your teaching toward curriculum standards and grade level expectations instead of "teaching to the test" or "test item teaching" as identified in the article. If so, how? If not, why not?

Forum: October 22 Workshop Reflection	Times Read: 14
Date: 10-24-2005 08:34
Author: Allen, Ashley <aallen@mpsb.us>
Subject EPAS facilitates teaching


EPAS Pathways are aligned with the state benchmarks which are taught as GLE's in the comprehensive curriculum that started this year. Teaching the comprehensive curriculum covers each of the GLE's students will be tested on. "Teaching to the Test" does not prepare students for high performances. Our parish now requires each core teacher to administer unit tests for the comprehensive curriculum. These unit tests are to be written in the same format as LEAP/GEE questions, so our students are prepared for Spring testing.

Forum: October 22 Workshop Reflection	Times Read: 10
Date: 10-24-2005 12:57
Author: Leonard, Pauline <pleonard@woodard.latech.edu>
Subject Re: EPAS facilitates teaching


Thanks, Ashley. You are quick to post! Well done. Thanks for sharing the info re what is happening in your district. Do you feel the unit tests are effective?

Forum: October 22 Workshop Reflection	Times Read: 10
Date: 11-03-2005 12:02
Author: Thompson, Leslie <adreasa@bellsouth.net>
Subject EPAS and "teaching to the test"


I don't feel that EPAS necessarily facilitate teaching curriculum but being aware of EPAS pathways will allow emphasis and enhancement of the concepts stressed on the EPAS components. I did not find the article to be very interesting. The phrase teaching to the test has been worn out to me and I've never thought twice about it because I don't believe in it. Yes it should have never been coined, but it is here and I am sure that it will continually be used because no matter how you say it, it is what administrators want us to do to improve school scores.

Forum: October 22 Workshop Reflection	Times Read: 6
Date: 11-06-2005 11:52
Author: Leonard, Pauline <pleonard@woodard.latech.edu>
Subject Re: EPAS and "teaching to the test"


Thanks, Leslie, for sharing your viewpoint. As you point out, awareness of EPAS standards can help teachers in making decisions about the concepts and skills that need to be emphasized. EPAS test data can also help teachers understand students' needs and strengths as well.

Forum: October 22 Workshop Reflection	Times Read: 16
Date: 11-20-2005 00:41
Author: Armstrong, Solomon <s_armstrong@bellsouth.net>
Subject "Teaching to the Test" An Expression to Eliminate


In my opinion, there is really no way you can teach to the test unless you have a copy of the actual test that you will be administering. But then, that would be item teaching. I definitely agree that item teaching is bad. My student's battle cry when they first look upon a test is, "That stuff wasn't on the (review) sheet!" I constantly remind my students that there is no easy way out. I don't care if they just arrived on the planet. Textbooks are designed for reading. The activities are designed to help you read. And then the test or quiz is designed to measure how well you have read and comprehended what you have read. Yet, most students still want the easy way out - item teaching. As the article points out, item teaching would yield a high percentage of A's and B's. But the tradeoff would be little or no mastery.

Forum: October 22 Workshop Reflection	Times Read: 6
Date: 11-21-2005 10:43
Author: Leonard, Pauline <pleonard@woodard.latech.edu>
Subject Re: "Teaching to the Test" An Expression to Eliminate


Well stated, Solomon. Item teaching is not desirable for helping students think beyond what's on the test. Achieving an A or a B on such a test does not really tell us much about students' understanding, interpretation, and application of concepts and skills in the content areas.

Forum: October 22 Workshop Reflection	Times Read: 7
Date: 12-02-2005 09:23
Author: Norcross, Aimee Anne <aimee.norcross@bossierschools.org>
Subject "Teaching to the Test"


This was a great article. I have the phrase "teaching to the test". I like the way Popham put it as "curriculum teaching". Our students need to come out of their school career prepared for life not prepared to take a standardized test. I do believe that students need to be prepared for testing, but that this should be done through the teaching of the curriculum. I give my students testing tips because I think it's important, but I do not spend my entire year teaching the test. Aimee Anne Norcross Rusheon Middle School

Forum: October 22 Workshop Reflection	Times Read: 9
Date: 12-02-2005 12:58
Author: Boykins, James <ninnypooh40@hotmail.com>
Subject "Teaching to the Test", An Expression to Eliminate


Epas pathways are aligned with the state benchmarks which are taught as GLE's in the comprehensive curriculum in each school class this year. Epas ensures that each standard is taught by correlating with each subject area standard; thereby, making sure that all phases of the curriculum is covered. Epas provides a well rounded learning experience for all students, where normally they wouldn't learn from just taking or passing the test. In the end result, the student would be ready for all of life's situations when he or she enters the world on their own.

Forum: October 22 Workshop Reflection	Times Read: 11
Date: 12-02-2005 13:03
Author: Bell, Sheila <sbell712542001@yahoo.com>
Subject "Teaching to the Test" An Expression to Eliminate


The job of any teacher is first and primary to promote learning in their students. I feel that time spent on teaching to the test often overemphasizes basic-skills and neglects higher-order thinking skills. Teaching to the test alters what you can infer from test scores because it involves teaching specific contents. I believe that you can prepare students on how to take a test through test taking skills, but also teach to the curriculum as well. Most importantly, students need to be able to engage in a true learning environment that promotes future success. EPAS can help with teaching toward curriculum standard and grade level expectations.

Forum: October 22 Workshop Reflection	Times Read: 9
Date: 12-02-2005 14:27
Author: Richardson, Blanche <blancherichardson123@hotmail.com>
Subject "Teaching To The Test"


I feel when to much time is being spent on teaching the one doesn't show his basic-skills. Teaching the test alters the score at that particular time of test scoring. EPAS can help with teaching toward curriculum standards. I believe that each subject should be taught along with the standard curriculum all through the entire year. The student will be able to keep up with his learning experiences which will carry him or her through life.

Forum: October 22 Workshop Reflection	Times Read: 5
Date: 12-02-2005 15:09
Author: Winzer, Dorothy <dorothy.winzer@bossierschools.org>
Subject DOROTHY WINZER and MARTHA STEVENSON "TEACH TO TEST"


Per: Dorothy Winzer "TEACHING TO THE TEST" For many years, I have personally felt that as an educator, we are the most unappreciated, unpaid for the work we are asked to do and silent when it comes to defending ourselves and our profession. In today's society, we are the people who educate and prepare the attorneys, doctors, engineers, and all other professions. People are sent to jail, patients die from errors in judgment, and buildings collapse use of poor construction, no one questions their profession or methods. This article clearly states the dilemma of accountability and its many interpretations. We teach a curriculum, not to the test. We work to ensure that our students master skills and obtain knowledge, whether it's called content standards, education objectives, or curricular aims. Test are standards by which we can observe whether students have acquired solid skills in school or out. We should always question anyone who says "teaching to the test". Per: Martha Stevenson "TEACHING TO THE TEST" AN EXPRESSION TO ELIMINATE Yes, it is all about accountability. We as educators frequently hear the phrase, yet worldwide not fall to the ranks of many to "teach to the test". Since we are all accountable as clear-thinking educators we know that mastering the skills and knowledge of content standards and pathways is the only way to seek success of standardized test. Teaching to the test simply says that teachers want their students to acquire skills that the student can apply to all curriculum areas. Again, we are all accountable so let's teach toward specific test. Per: Martha Stevenson

Forum: October 22 Workshop Reflection	Times Read: 4
Date: 12-02-2005 22:37
Author: Petry, Sherrone DeVall <educator1971@hotmail.com>
Subject "Teaching to the Test" An Expression to Eliminate


As educators we are all familiar with the expression that we must prepare students for the test in March. It is a fact that student mastery on the test is suppose to reflect our teaching. It has been my belief that there is no one way to teach the test, the only way that this can be accomplished is by having a copy of the actual test. The article made one vital point that I liked and that is to eliminate the expression of teaching to the test. EPAS has proven to us that with proper planning each child will succeed on the test or at least make an improvement from year to year. Therefore, our ultimate goal is to make sure that we leave no child behind.

Forum: October 22 Workshop Reflection	Times Read: 2
Date: 01-26-2006 08:29
Author: Aulds, Kenneth <Auldsk@bellsouth.net>
Subject Teaching the Test


Teaching the test primarily to a class is often detrimental to the progress of the learning environment. When a teacher focuses only on what is going to be given in state assessment, the material that is not covered is lost to that generation of students. There are more things in the curriculum that is not covered in the state assessment that is important for the students to know. When the powers that be decide what they feel a student must know, that eliminates any control over what the teacher feels is necessary to teach. We have spent an enormous amount of time and money becoming educated to teach children, only to have higher powers decide what to teach for us. It has been alluded that this procedure is harmful to learning and damaging to the morale of teachers.