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posted by:
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Kathryn Show
on May 14, 2003
at 8:17PM
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subject:
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Effects of High Stakes Tests
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We are facing the same problems as far as district administrators
focusing on Lang. Arts and Math test scores and downplaying the
importance of science. But this is mostly happening in schools where
the scores are extremely low. Most of the principals and teachers are
so sold on inquiry science that they are continuing to teach it, partly
because we have tied expository writing and certain math strands to the
units over the past few years. Also our state is developing and
recently piloted a state science assessment on the 5th grade level.
(It is already required for grades 8 and 10.) This spring elem. schools
could voluntarily choose to pilot it . We are currently conducting
classes for teachers of grades 3-5 where teachers are reflecting on the
implications for science instruction and what the entire school needs
to do in order for students to be prepared for this assessment when it
becomes mandatory in 2005. Many teachers have attended and some of the
most common comments are: We really need to make sure that every
teacher on each grade level is doing their part to prepare students.
We need everyone to be doing the inquiry science curriculum because it
is most aligned with this assessment. While we are happy that this is
the reaction, we also want to make sure that teachers continue to teach
science effectively because that is what students need not just because
there is going to be a high-stakes test soon.
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