Testing,1-2-3,Testing, 1-2-3

Yesterday I guest taught (that is the fancy word for sub teaching) third grade at a local elementary school. It is a good little school, although 70% of the kids are on free and reduced lunch they have had markedly improved  scores on the state test in the last year and the teachers and staff are very focused on providing a warm, open and creative learning place for the students.
Although my certification is in secondary, I have taught K-adult and I enjoy working with the little kids. When I checked the  lesson plans for the day I noticed that we would be taking MAP reading tests. These are computerized assessments, Measure of  Academic Progress, used by the local district to , ostensibly, get an assessment of each child's learning level. They are given 2-3 times a year for 2-12 grade. These are not the high stakes state level, or the soon to be high states PARCC core curriculum tests.(More on those, much more, in a blog or two very soon)

I took the class to the computer lab where they were immediately put to work typing in their name and password. The test was administered by the librarian who is also the Tech teacher in our schools. This particular school has a wonderful librarian and I would be the circulating watcher of the kids after he got them logged in and started.

I soon caught on that some of the kids had difficulty just understanding how the computer was to be used, even though they all have regular classes for reading and math in the computer lab. The kids were told that there were 42 questions, that they would have more time for the test the next day and to just do their very best.

I had about 40 minutes for them in the lab- so I encouraged them to start right away. Within 5 minutes I had the first question of "how many questions are there?" By the end of the testing this was asked by at least 8 kids, even though it had been written on the whiteboard. The interminability of sitting and staring at a computer  which did not have a game on it for an 8 year old was quickly apparent. I had to remind kids many times to not use the keyboard, but to just use the mouse to highlight answers. I could not read anything to them, I could not answer any of their questions or concerns other than "don't worry that this question has a blue background, just answer it" "no, your earphones aren't broken, you have to read it" and also to remind them to not pretend write on the keyboard, chew on the headphone cord, poke your neighbor and on and on. Their disengagement with the computer was nearly unanimous, except for the few who became mesmerized with staring at each picture or story without appearing to read.

The first kid finished in ten minutes- saying he was the winner-high five.

He was quickly followed by 5 others. I gave them real books to read while we waited for the time to be up. 
MAP gives you instant feedback on the reading level, or lexile, achieved. I assure you that the levels scored by  the six kids who finished were not all correct. I had read with all of them earlier and know that most appeared to be at least on grade level. All scored poorly.
Now the MAP is not what is called High Stakes- that is- the school, the teacher, the child are not "graded' on it. So why should we care? How about the fact that starting this year my state is one of the states that has bought into the national PARCC test, a test which has the backing of not only the state and federal education departments, but also has been pushed by the c̶o̶m̶p̶u̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶p̶a̶n̶y̶ ̶c̶a̶p̶i̶t̶a̶l̶i̶s̶t̶  I mean educational philanthropist Bill Gates.

Oh, and PARCC? It is all done on computers, with new software and computer access required for all students who are taking it.

Those third grade kids I watched who were playing with the computers weren't necessarily doing it because they are disobedient little goof offs. They were doing it because that IS what they think of first with computers. The classes they take on computers are made to be kid-friendly, interactive and fun. Testing is very rarely fun in any format for most people. Unless you are the first one done. High five.




And now for a song on standardized testing by singer Tom Chapin...

More info on the MAP test

and Bill Gates interest in standardized testing