Comments on: Why (as a teacher and parent) I Value Standardized Testing

By: This Week in Ontario Edublogs – doug — off the record

This Week in Ontario Edublogs – doug — off the record — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 10:00:16 +0000

[…] Why (as a teacher and parent) I Value Standardized Testing […]

By: KGray

KGray — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 01:49:55 +0000

Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment! I’m glad there are others out there who still value and work towards high academic standards. Yes, EQAO administration is costly and faulted but I do think we need something to set as grade level standards even though they may only be at grades 3,6,9 and 10.

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By: Iteachtoo

Iteachtoo — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 00:50:22 +0000

You can count a fellow “type A” in agreement to the majority of your sentiments. I see why the US system finds them problematic, as they ARE used punitively there – high scoring tests seem to “be the goal,” as opposed to using the results to provide evidence to “reach the goal” (which to some extent, I think we do much better). I take my responsibility to move kids forward very seriously, and do find myself (as a teacher in an EQAO testing year) frustrated when I am desperately trying to fill gaps, and meet benchmarks and standards in a single year, while other teachers have more latitude to let kids grow at their own pace without that drive for some sort of measurable end result. The casual school climate and general disinterest in academics from parents has pushed a lot our high expectations to the wayside – lots of great opportunities, sports, activities, that I absolutely would not want to deny students of, but, they are often to the detriment of consistency and ensuring kids leave the grade at a standard. This also happens simply because teachers without accountability can more easily ‘run out of time’, and who’s watching anyways, right? I think, if taken as one piece of the puzzle, standardized testing results have merit, as long as they do not overtake our practice. The whole cost and way they are administered in Ontario is a whole other conversation, however. In the meantime, like you, I also use them to inform my practice. They are a great tool in my teaching to demonstrate standards to students because exemplars are just a part of good practice, and as you’ve pointed out, these are objective:)

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By: KGray

KGray — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 18:43:31 +0000

I completely agree @teachingontheverge. The system in Ontario is absolutely completely different that the one in the states – which is why I totally got that the editor in question didn’t want to publish this type of post. I do not see any point in getting kindergarden students to “bubble in” test papers, but I do value the general concept of standardized testing if administered in a logical, purposeful and progressive manner.

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By: teachingontheverge

teachingontheverge — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 18:29:11 +0000

I wonder if the missing piece here is that the standardized testing regime in many states is far more extensive, punitive, and reductionist than the system in Ontario. There are states where Kindergarten students are taught how to “bubble in” test papers. That’s neither developmentally appropriate nor useful. The situation in Ontario is way more nuanced than that, which your post reflects. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2015/06/06/the-kindergarten-testing-mess/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.616cf87982df

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