(Untitled)

[jewelry_tears]

Lastnight we saw on the news the percentages of students that have failed the Leap test. It didn't sit well with me just how many schools had more than half of the students fail it, yet you can only doubt that anything will be done about it.

I won't even get started on No Child Left Behind.

Comments

[perfectsevens]

The thing about the LEAP test is the same thing with the ACT/SAT in that, many kids simply do not test well, especially under the kind of pressure that a timed standardized test can bring about. Not to mention that since it's inception (and the No Child Left Behind Act) many teachers are being pressured into teaching kids how to take a fucking test instead of .... teaching kids. Sorry that's my soapbox.

[rnbowpixy]

I totally agree with Dalton. Also sad is the amount of pressure put on kids about that test, since they can't pass to the next grade without passing ONE test.
And what's really scary is what is going to happen to the job market when these kids all get of age to work and don't have the necessary skills and education to move past a low-level job.

[jewelry_tears]

Yeah, my brother did not pass, and he made all A's and B's this year. So, he is missing out on his summer before high school by going to summer school, where they are being prepared for the Leap test, and are given the opportunity to take it again in July. Standardized testing has its pros and cons. I can fully understand the desire to see where children are at, but to prohibit them from passing on to the next grade can be taking it to extreme. To be able to move on to the next grade, you cannot have all F's. If you have all F's then it is apparent that you have not mastered the skills in order to successfully advance to the next grade level. But for one single test to determine your passing..then why not throw out grades all together? I am certain that not all states are as backwards as this one. When this was introduced on the news the other night it was really disturbing the amount of students that are attending summer school due to this. In my opinion it is just going to become a conversation piece, and no real action plan will be

[perfectsevens]

That's exactly what I was talking about. My mom spends a good two entire months teaching nothing but how to take the LEAP test (since she teaches 7th grade and a portion is given there). That is two months not spent teaching history or reading, depending on which particular class. Furthermore, in some schools (I believe this to be true from what Mom has said but I could be wrong)the teaching of the LEAP test is actually part of the curriculum and not just something the teacher elects to do because of job evaluations or trying to help the kids pass to the next grade.

[jewelry_tears]

Yeah, isn't it frustrating! The ILEAP test is the test that is being administered in the grades other than 4th and 8th. So, it is affecting all students. You are absolutely right, in some schools the practice is the portion of the curriculum. I am sure you can imagine how mind dulling this experience is for students. When I was in the schools this past semester, it was at least a month that every day I saw the preparation being taken care of day in and day out. I had trouble functioning in there, much less these 8 and 9 year olds who can only hear the same thing so many times.