Testing Season: I Have Opinions!
We are ending another school year of testing. In my neck of the woods, the students spend about one solid month of testing - school based reading and math, state English, math, history, science, world languages, and mandatory finals. In addition to tests the general student population must endure, we have a special sort of hell for English language learners. In New York State, my students not only take the tests the general population takes, but they also sit through a four part test in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. This is FOUR DAYS of testing in addition to all of the other testing.
Each year, I struggle to balance my teacher moral compass with administering test prep lessons. This is particularly consequential for the English Language Learners because if they “pass out” they are not entitled to any support services. I have students who can barely put a sentence together yet are not entitled to any additional English language support. In New York State, students who score beyond the high beginner level are not entitled to direct English language instruction. This is ludicrous.
Every year I am at a decision making crossroads - test prep or not to test prep? Yes. I can game the system. I can teach the tricks for higher scores. But this does not help my students. So, I have settled on a flawed compromise. I teach the format of the test so my students know what to expect, but I don’t teach “test prep.”
I’m curious to hear your thoughts. Drop me a line in my email. And, shout out to all of the dedicated teachers out there trying to navigate through a politically corrupt system.
