For Americans this is tax season. With the April 15th dark cloud looming over their heads, people everywhere are trying to get their all their financial information together, organized and properly 10W-somethinged for the U.S. government.
For most Americans this is your only tax season, and it comes once a year.
However, for many Texans there is also TAKS Season.
You may not live in Texas and even if you do, you may not have school age children. For those of you who happen to be out of the public education loop…in Texas public schools we have a little thing called the TAKS test. (Pronounced like tax) TAKS stands for Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.
As a teacher, the TAKS test is the greatest producer of stress I have in my life. And it’s trickle down stress. The state puts pressure on the superintendent, who in turn puts pressure on the district administrators, who in turn put pressure on the principals, who in turn put pressure on the teachers, who in turn put pressure on the kids.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for accountability, but ours is a flawed system.
I’ve been teaching for only 11 years, but in that short amount of time I’ve had no less than three students who the state has determined, after a battery of tests, have IQ’s that are too low to qualify for special education and must therefore take and pass the TAKS test.
And that's only one of a plethora of flaws...
21 comments:
New York state has all sorts of tests that benchmark the student and the school district. Because of the pressures and possible rewards (state funding is dependent on scores)I have seen the focus on education going to almost exclusively preparing for these exams. Its now all about the scores. What about the students? How do we look after the best interests of our kids? Its not all in a number.
Take Care
Michael
I had to read that last part several times because I had a hard time with the IQ too low for Special Ed. You're telling us mentally incompetent kids must pass the TAKS AND they get no special services? I, myself, am tired of my children missing weeks of regular instruction to be taught TAKS. The clincher? The kids dump the data in their heads immediately afterwards because they have no need for it in real life.
I’m not a special education teacher, and my understanding of the whole process is limited at best. In a nutshell, here’s my understanding of how the whole “IQ too low for special education” thing works.
In the state of Texas (I’m not sure about other states), in order for an elementary student to qualify for special education there must be a 13-point discrepancy between a child’s IQ and the level at which he or she is able to perform.
An IQ of 69 or below is considered, by the state, to be mentally challenged, and therefore a student with an IQ of 69 or below would qualify for special education.
A child with a IQ of 95, for example, who’s testing shows his level of performance to be at 75, has a 20-point discrepancy and therefore qualifies for special education.
However, a child with an IQ of 70, but who’s testing shows his level of performance to be at or near 70, is considered to be performing as well as can be expected and therefore does not qualify for special education.
There are other factors, such as speech, that can sometimes help these kids qualify, but not always.
After rereading TAKS Season, I can see how the wording I choose out of frustration with the system, could be interpreted differently that I desired.
However, a problem still exists.
Do you think, as a teacher, that tests of any kind help children to learn? We home school and I do very little testing, lots of review and going over but very little testing. I just don't see how it gives an accurate indication of what a child is learning.
No, I don't think learning is the purpose of testing. In my class, I use testing as a way for me to see what my students need more help with.
Actually, since the ultimate goal of classroom testing is to help me see what areas my students need more work with, then yes, testing does help learning.
However, I really don't know anything about the value of testing in the home school environment.
I am the parent of an average student who earns As and Bs in all of her classes. However, she has now failed the math and Science TAKS. Being only our 2nd year in the Texas system, it really aggravates (that's the nice word for it) me that TAKS was designed to make sure our teachers are teaching what they need to and yet, we are testing our students on their knowledge of that taught material. EXCUSE ME - what's that Mr Legislature? There has to be another way to make sure our teachers are teaching what they need to without stressing our kids out beyond belief. I have excellent teachers in our system and I truly believe they are teaching well and what they need too, however, my daughter is a bad test taker. Even her teachers know that. So what I want to know, is there a website where the citizens go and log complaints about the TAKS test, and actually try and do something about it. What steps do I need to take to get this ridiculous accountability system fixed?
It is nice to FINALLY find a place that this is being discussed. I am a frustrated parent of a third grader who is struggling with reading and is being required to take the TAKS test at of course a 3rd grade reading and comprehension level. He is at best 2nd grade level.
He finally was tested for learning disability, but all his classwork, tutoring, special reading class are ALL teaching him to the 3rd grade TAKS test... and most of his classwork (Math, Science, social studies) all require he knows how to read. They DO help him with reading to him his math and other special help, but he is being sent to study hall which eats up all his recess time to make up the work. For a 7 hour day this kid (and ALL kids in my opinion) need more than a 20 minute lunch.
I know the kids are stressed at school, I hear it at lunch.. 'if we don't pass the TAKS we don't go to 4th grade'... in Special Reading class they are told 'and this is how it is going to be on the TAKS test... my 3rd grader was so stressed over this .... i brought it to the attention to the teacher and she replied with a 'so sorry I hurt your child's feelings...' I told her 'no, you did not hurt his feelings, I KNOW hurt feelings, he was having anxiety about the TAKS test and not 'reading good enough' because they show an 'accountability' chart to him.
I am just a single mom from a lower than average income... my voice is not one that would be really heard and I don't want to ruffle the waters any more than they have been, but between the TAKS test and this new new math... I have had it.
My dream -- a school that combines Sylvan teaching approach to Montessori.. heck even my parochial school approach is MUCH better.. Learn the basics, build a foundation....
My son is slipping further and further back I can totally see it and I WISH I could afford a private school that doesn't even follow the TAKS or the NEW NEW math.
Thanks for listening and thanks to the original teacher who posted this thread. Makes me feel less alone in all this.
I am the mother of 6 and a current psychology grad student. My goal in the next two years is to do research that proves the stres level is too intense for 3rd graders and their teachers! TAKS shouldn't be spoon fed, as it is now AND this level of stress for kids this age is TOO MUCH. I've even heard of a few students being tested for MR (psychological testing) because they may be potenital risks for the school. I am very curious to see if psych eval testing becomes the administrations out for certain kids. It is such a game now!
I can't believe how easy the TAKS test is! Try giving the California test! I downloaded the TAKS test and was shocked to see how difficult we have it here in California. I truly believe that a student who fails the California test would have a good chance of getting 100% in Texas! I feel that our second grade test is more difficult thean your third grade test! I wish we could get a national test so that all states are tested equally!
My son is now in 4th grade,yeah he survived the 3rd grade TAKS. The stress load never gets easier as the years goes on though. Even though 4th is not a grade level that the can be held back if they fail, the test is still being focused on everyday. My son is bombarded with TAKS related homework every week.
I know many of the parents in my community and all of our children are acting out in one way or another because they are only 2 weeks away from their official writing TAKS test which they only get 1 chance to pass. The parents I know are tired of seeing their childern suffer over this stressful test. Whether the test is difficult or not is not the problem. the problem is that everything revolves around this test and the majority of the stress is placed squarely on the shoulder of these CHILDREN. I think people need to realize that they are indeed children and can not handle this much stress.
I really feel bad for the children that don't learn new things as fast as others because they are really being singled out. In our school the childern that did not pass the moch TAKS tests were forced to give up their free time to report to go to TAKS lab. If that isn't bad enough all of the children in 3rd grade that passed the TAKS on their first try were given a carnival style party outside while the students who didn't pass the 1st time were in taking the test for the second time. Where is the fairness in that. I think that all of the kids worked their tail off and all should have been rewarded for their utter torture all year.
Okay now my ranting is complete thank you for letting me vent.
I to am a parent of a 3rd grader who is a straight A student and can not pass the TAKS test i reading as well. It is so upsetting to me to know that she will fail the 3rd grade if she does not pass it this time. I have worked and worked with her over and over again. I am sure it is the stress of it all that makes her not able to pass. What to do?
Just a few comments from another third grade teacher:
First, the third grade TAKS test is first designed to see if kids are on grade reading level. Secondary to judge teacher's "competency." It is all seriously flawed and parents need to call their state rep, particulary regarding the undue stress this child goes through. The reps need to know this! I have already been to the capitol and most have only heard this third hand.
Next, perhaps the California test is more difficult, but the kids we have coming in from California are overwhelmingly reading below grade level. So perhaps the teachers there are forced to "teach to the test?" Then the kid truly does forget everything, ie...they have no reading strategies. Unfortunately, many, many schools are doing this here, so this is another thing our state reps must address.
To be sure, the TAKS test will be a thing of the past in the coming years. It is already being done away with in high school, however, one of the most harming factors of this test is the rating system which should be done away with NOW!
When property values are tied to how well a school does, the pressure is on to not just have kids pass the test, but pass at the highest level! Insane!
Lastly, to the woman whose daughter has failed the test despite making all A's. Something is wrong here. How a third grader can make all A's and not pass this test is suspect. Perhaps she has severe test anxiety. This requires intervention. Perhaps the teacher has accommodated instruction and/or grades for your child. That means he/she may grade easier on your child for a diagnosed or perceived learning disability. Either way, your child's teacher should have conferenced with you about this.
Also, even if your child fails the third time, it does not necessarily mean she will not go on to the fourth grade. There would first be a meeting in which you and school officals discuss what should happen to your child. These days, retention is seen as an extreme measure and if your daughter is making all A's, I can almost bet they will not retain her.
Try not to stress out about this test. It is NOT worth the emotional health of anybody!
In the past 2 years we have had about 10 kids transfer from California. According to a post above TAKS is easy. Well all of these students BOMBED! the TAKS.
Im a 3rd grade teacher, the TAKS is in two days!!! I HATE HATE TAKS!
I feel the pain of all parents and children that have to endure the TAKS (bleep, bleep, bleep)test. I have a 3rd grader that took the test and failed it by 2 points during the mock test, then tutoring was offered to him the test was given again twice each time he did worst. I work with my child on homework every day and am frustrated because I spoke to the principal in 1st grade about getting my child help was told it was not offered until he took the mock taks test. He is in summer school now getting one more chance to test, if he doesn't pass he will repeat 3rd grade. I feel the school has let him down and depending on the results home schooling might be just what we will do. On the last day of school he was devasted when on his report card it stated he had failed. He is a A, B student and he is so stressed out that he is becoming disinterested in school. Any advice?
I personally think that TAKS is a test taking skills and it is not a measure where your child is. When my child first took a reading test similar to TAKS during 2nd grade, she got 45. My daughter always gets 90 and above on all her grades at school, even now, and this is shocking. After meeting and talking to the teacher, the teacher admitted that this is a test taking skills. Duh? I personally, am not happy with this TASKS sytem.
Hi there, I am a mother of three, and my oldest is in third grade and dealing with the taks for the first time. He has always been a bit behind and just barely been able to move ahead to the next grade. I don't know if anyone else has noticed this about the taks, but I have and I think it is awful! When they ask the questions on the test, they word it in a way that is harder to make sense of for the kids. Its not the way they learn it in class. They use bigger and more difficult words that are not as commonly used in the classroom and it is harder for the kids to figure out just what the question is even though they really know how to do it. I believe it is all in the wording!!!! The questions are just asked so differently than the way they are taught in the classroom!!!!
I am having a hard time understanding why this is such an inflammatory subject-for one, when did we all begin to think it ok to demand so little from these kids? If they can't pass, they don't deserve to pass-and too often do! My 11 year old step-daughter failed TAKS 3 times last year, and Willis School district still promoted-due to "social stigma". I believe it's due to funding, and as I watch this child lazily not even try to pass or learn, as I see grades change at report card time I am flabbergasted! To give her Dr. Seuss books to read so she'll make 100 on her reading tests, to see how behind she is and still pass her anyway is unexcusable to me-and perhaps this mentality is why there are so many people in this world today who cannot read, write or communicate effectively, and why this country has come to lag behind so many others...let's stop coddling these children and demand more from them!! Life is not non-competitive and they need to learn to work hard & not expect anything to be handed to them!!
My very smart 5th grader gets so bored with taks, taks, taks, that she can't stay focused. She makes a's; b's and c's. She stressed so badly over taks, she failed the reading and now has to re-take it. Math is next and she broke out in hives this weekend due to nerves. Teachers are unhappy that they cannot teach with the joy that once was called teaching and students no longer like school. There has to be a happy medium.
My son gets A's and was earning B's on the mock tests. I asked him to bring home all of his practice tests and review the questions. He spent hours this weekend. I was able to clear up a few of the problem areas with him. He took all of the interactive online tests and is now averaging 100% on the practice tests. His confidence level is high. I think parents can sometimes unwittingly add to their child's stress by complaining about the test when they should look for ways to help the child improve. I also visit the teacher's supply store for workbooks regularly.
I HAVE A 3RD GRADER WHO JUSTS TOOK THE TASKS TESTS AND DID NOT PASS IT. SHE HAS MADE AB HONOR ROLL ALL YEAR LONG AND HAS ONLY MISSED 4 DAYS OF SCHOOL. BUT YET SHE FAILED IT WITH A VERY LOW GRADE. I THINK THAT THEY ARE PRESSURING THE KIDS WITH THE "IMPORTANCE" OF THE TESTS AND IT MAKES THEM TO NERVOUS TO CONCENTRATE. I REMEBER THE DAY I DROPPED HER OFF TO SCHOOL FOR THE TESTS SHE SAID SHE WAS NERVOUS. ALSO, THE SCHOOL HAD TUTORIALS FOR ABOUNT 2MONTHS BEFORE THE TASKS AND ATLEAST 2 DAYS OUT OF THE 4 THE SCHOOL HAD CANCELLED THE TUTORIALS BECAUSE THEY WERE SICK OR FAMILY EMERGENCY OR SOMETHING. AND ALOT OF THE DAYS ONE TEACHER HAD TO WATCH 2 CLASSES BECAUSE A TEACHER WAS OUT AND THEY DID NOT HAVE A SUBSTITUTE. SO I THINK THEY NEED TO GET RID OF THE TASKS BECAUSE THEYRE ARENT ENOUGH DEDICATED TEACHERS TO HELP THE STUDENTS REALLY PASS IT. AND AFTER HELPING HER STUDY FOR IT ALL YEAR I DIDNT SEE ANYTHING MUCH THAT WILL BENEFIT THEM IN THE FUTURE
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