May 16, 2018

1. Submission: A student wrote the lyrics to Havana on a writing prompt. This was a district benchmark BUT can these kids really be trusted in proving me as an effective teacher? I mean would you assume that I taught about Cuba and East Atlanta in my class...during social studies perhaps instead of how to write an essay?

2. We have been testing all week...I'm not sure that people truly understand the problems with testing but only see the shitty statistics afterwards like achievement gaps, school to prison pipeline due to their 3rd grade tests and such so I have supplied some visuals...

2a. The first picture details the scores needed to pass this years 5th and 8th grade reading and mathematics test. Note that the other spaces are blank because this year a new testing company (ETS) created their interpretation of a STAAR test and we needed to see how kids did before setting a goal AND Harvey did put a wrench in things Texas Education Agency waited to collect the data before posting a passing rate.

2b. Also, notice how the other tests passing rates are blank for this year...ain't that crazy.

3. The second picture are the passing rates from last year. Lots of things to notice.

3a. Approaches grade level is the minimum passing percentage....aren't those rates kind of low? If you have to make your passing scores so low demonstrates to me that the test is too difficult for the majority of kids to pass.

3b. Grade Level...where you should be for your current grade. Ok, those look like passing percentages...but wait...I see some 60s!

3c. Masters...commended if you remember TAAS or TAKS but means that you are smart...however those 80s and the 70s I see seem a bit low...just look like B students to me

4. The third picture gives a further explanation of each tier and the appropriate interventions if any. I will say beyond complete failure those interventions are not being adhered to.

4a....meaning that I will get a handful of Master kids, a bunch of middle of the road Grade Level and a handful of approaches or failures all in one class. Thus nobody is getting the proper amount of instruction they deserve.

5. This is mad boring stuff but SUPER important because people don't truly understand what is going on. I could literally talk about this all day. If you are outraged by this get your coalition together and hit up TEA.

5a.If you know a kid yours or otherwise and you are confused about their academic progress via testing hit me up and I can explain further.

6. This is a set up for failure for so many people...teachers, students, parents, communities, states...the country....



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