Here we are...the M-STEP. An online computer-based assessment administered by the State of Michigan to assess proficiency in the Core subjects. The M-STEP is said to be rooted in the Common Core--which if your curriculum is aligned with the CCSS, there should not be any issue.
As an ELA teacher, this test literally fell into my lap. Yes, my students have been receiving instruction, assessments, and rigor related to the CCSS. BUT, is this ok? Should students be given tests by the State of Michigan without any actual awareness of what is on it? Shouldn't there be some process in place? Because, this was a surprise. That's the word no one wants to say. A surprise that has fallen into the lap of everyone involved.
The kicker...?
What does this mean for students? What is the gravity for them? Can we tell them that the M-STEP has post-secondary implications? Can we tell them that it affects their GPA, Class Rank? Where is the carrot or stick? As a teacher, we need to have some sort of consequence to this test for the students. How can we make students take this test over several days if there is no endgame. It reminds me of the instances when parents say "because I said so." It's been said by all, but it's a ridiculous notion. No one wants their children to become people who accept the will of others without inquisition. That would lead to a society of drones, completing tasks for no rhyme or reason.
I am certain that the M-STEP test will contain rigor, critical thinking, and require a large amount of intellect in order to do perform proficiently. But, our reasoning for justification when asking our students to take this test...contains NONE of these things.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
I took a hiatus from the blogosphere and twittersphere so I could clear my head and reharness my chi. As a second year teacher I learned that I did not take enough of a break last year and I wanted to make sure to do so. Here's a short top-5 (Letterman style) to catch up.
1) We've just come off of a Snow Week. Yes, that's right...Snow Week. A series of five Snow Days which coincidentally followed the two-week break students and staff were afforded by way of the holiday season.
2) Midterm week begins the week of Jan. 20
3) Being a teacher and watching the Midterm intensity ramp up is entertaining. I remember being a student in High School and College and trying to downplay such events as ordinary. They were not ordinary--far from it. They were instead incredibly important in my life as a student and I try to convey that to my students each day.
4) English 11's midterm will be divided into two parts. I. Literary Essay - G.K. Chesterton's The Fallacy of Success. II. ACT style preparation of English and Reading
5) English 12's midterm will be divided into two parts. I. 8pg piece of FictionII. 4pg research based essay
Today I was listening to a segment of On Point a radio broadcast under the NPR umbrella. The segment chronicles how the American Economy is and will be in the future. This comes on the heels of Obama's pledge for free C.C tuition! Listen to the link below:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2015/01/13/economic-data-unemployment-neoliberal-capitalism
Anyways, I think that education needs to more accurately reflect the Economy. It is naive to think that there is not a positive correlation between these two things. Education is a lever to occupation and the economy drives occupation. If people are being educated in arenas which are not available for employment then what is the purpose?
Also...here's a few things I wrote:
http://www.freep.com/story/
http://www.educatorsforhighstandards.org/teacher-champion-blog
1) We've just come off of a Snow Week. Yes, that's right...Snow Week. A series of five Snow Days which coincidentally followed the two-week break students and staff were afforded by way of the holiday season.
2) Midterm week begins the week of Jan. 20
3) Being a teacher and watching the Midterm intensity ramp up is entertaining. I remember being a student in High School and College and trying to downplay such events as ordinary. They were not ordinary--far from it. They were instead incredibly important in my life as a student and I try to convey that to my students each day.
4) English 11's midterm will be divided into two parts. I. Literary Essay - G.K. Chesterton's The Fallacy of Success. II. ACT style preparation of English and Reading
5) English 12's midterm will be divided into two parts. I. 8pg piece of FictionII. 4pg research based essay
Today I was listening to a segment of On Point a radio broadcast under the NPR umbrella. The segment chronicles how the American Economy is and will be in the future. This comes on the heels of Obama's pledge for free C.C tuition! Listen to the link below:
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2015/01/13/economic-data-unemployment-neoliberal-capitalism
Anyways, I think that education needs to more accurately reflect the Economy. It is naive to think that there is not a positive correlation between these two things. Education is a lever to occupation and the economy drives occupation. If people are being educated in arenas which are not available for employment then what is the purpose?
Also...here's a few things I wrote:
http://www.freep.com/story/
http://www.educatorsforhighstandards.org/teacher-champion-blog
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