Has it really been a month already?! I guess I'm not good at the blogging thing.
So last week was the grade 6 Part B achievement test. Actually, they had all their tests last week. Four days straight of testing. As someone who survived Jr High School final exams, High School final exams (and diploma exams) and all the tests that six years of University bring, I guess the idea of testing just seemed like a common occurance to me, but as I saw the kids studying and worrying I thought about these twelve year olds writing a series of formal tests.
Isn't this crazy?!
They're twelve. Yeah, sure the tests have some merit, but come on! If they bomb the test am I supposed to fail them? NO! If they ace the test but have been struggling all year can I base their final mark solely on the test mark? NO! So why? I know why, you don't have to respond. Government blah blah. Reliability blah blah. Accountability of students and teachers blah blah blah....
What matters when it all boils down? Simple! Do they take the advice I give them as they learn new poetry or when they're reading a section of their novel study? Do they read at home and do their vocabulary homework? Yeah, they do. So to see these kids (YES! They're still kids!) fretting over these tests rubbed me the wrong way.
Anyways, now it's all over and there's still a week and a half left of school left. We've got lots of school-wide events planned and they're goning to go out with a BANG! I guess I leave you with the thought:
When are tests necessary and when are the just horribly inconvenient?
Cheers!
So last week was the grade 6 Part B achievement test. Actually, they had all their tests last week. Four days straight of testing. As someone who survived Jr High School final exams, High School final exams (and diploma exams) and all the tests that six years of University bring, I guess the idea of testing just seemed like a common occurance to me, but as I saw the kids studying and worrying I thought about these twelve year olds writing a series of formal tests.
Isn't this crazy?!
They're twelve. Yeah, sure the tests have some merit, but come on! If they bomb the test am I supposed to fail them? NO! If they ace the test but have been struggling all year can I base their final mark solely on the test mark? NO! So why? I know why, you don't have to respond. Government blah blah. Reliability blah blah. Accountability of students and teachers blah blah blah....
What matters when it all boils down? Simple! Do they take the advice I give them as they learn new poetry or when they're reading a section of their novel study? Do they read at home and do their vocabulary homework? Yeah, they do. So to see these kids (YES! They're still kids!) fretting over these tests rubbed me the wrong way.
Anyways, now it's all over and there's still a week and a half left of school left. We've got lots of school-wide events planned and they're goning to go out with a BANG! I guess I leave you with the thought:
When are tests necessary and when are the just horribly inconvenient?
Cheers!
