tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6356731404556084935.post6443160602859497793..comments2024-03-09T00:32:36.373-08:00Comments on Finding Ways for All Kids to Flourish: What a Test Score Won't Reveal.. the Story of a LearnerJoan Young (aka Mancini)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06862764260067132727noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6356731404556084935.post-34160376176507595662010-05-06T13:26:14.711-07:002010-05-06T13:26:14.711-07:00I walked into the "computer lab" section...I walked into the "computer lab" section of our library the other day to find a single book left behind:<br /><br />"How to get Better Test Scores on Standardized Tests"<br /><br />Published by of course, The Perfection Learning Corporation.<br /><br />Geez...Paul Bogushhttp://blogush.edublogs.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6356731404556084935.post-89930485472826280492010-05-05T22:03:19.788-07:002010-05-05T22:03:19.788-07:00Tess,
Thanks so much for sharing your stories. Con...Tess,<br />Thanks so much for sharing your stories. Congratulations to you for doing such a wonderful job with your students, igniting their love for reading. It is valuable to point out that some scores will validate what we already know about kids who have made great growth. I appreciate your insights and "real stories." I think true ed reform will happen when we personalize and not standardize this whole thing we call learning.Joan Young (aka Mancini)https://www.blogger.com/profile/06862764260067132727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6356731404556084935.post-57920259161619373952010-05-05T21:22:59.979-07:002010-05-05T21:22:59.979-07:00Joan,
Amen, sister! I couldn't agree with you ...Joan,<br />Amen, sister! I couldn't agree with you more. Here are just a FEW success stories never told on a didactic Q and A test:<br />1. A fifth grader is FINALLY diagnosed with dyslexia THIS week (after failing the state tests year after excrutiating year). The bright spot? She is reading more than she ever has, loving it...AND passed the reading test (and yes, I am her teacher) this year...first time ever.<br />2. An at-risk student who is identified as a potential failure but receives no intervention because she scored too high on the benchmark is commended on her state test...first time ever. But the bright spot? She is reading more than ever and enjoying it for the first time in her life.<br />3. A twin brother has struggled every year while his brother has no issues with reading. He is commended on the state test. The bright spot? His self esteem is through the roof, and he didn't need a state test to tell him that he has grown as a reader.<br />4. A girl enters public school for the first time after being in private school since kinder. She is years behind in her schooling, and all bets are on that she will fail. She passes. The bright spot? She came to Meet the Teacher with a bad attitude about reading. We made a bet that if she didn't like reading by the end of the year, that I would pay her 20 bucks. I get to save my money.<br />The stories go on and on. Yes, they all did well on the state test. But the results were in well before the scores were mailed to my principals. I see it in their eyes and in their book choices. They are readers.<br />And no amount of bubbling made them readers.Reading Countessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6356731404556084935.post-19483333969331353102010-05-04T15:04:59.515-07:002010-05-04T15:04:59.515-07:00Thanks George for taking the time to comment. Some...Thanks George for taking the time to comment. Sometimes a test score does not capture that magic of a child believing in himself and working hard to improve. It might take years to show up on paper. You are right, as adults we don't want to be a "number"; kids deserve consideration and respect so that they can blossom.Joan Young (aka Mancini)https://www.blogger.com/profile/06862764260067132727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6356731404556084935.post-87323129439174360092010-05-04T10:34:35.568-07:002010-05-04T10:34:35.568-07:00I really believe in what you wrote, especially tal...I really believe in what you wrote, especially talking about how each person's needs and circumstances need to be accounted for. It is essential that we look at the whole child and not a number. Just think of us as adults; do we ever appreciate being treated as a "number"? Why would we EVER do that to kids.George Couroshttp://georgecouros.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com