Question for parents...RE: TAKS

[ScreamingMeemie]

My son is a mess over this upcoming assessment. We're from MI (home of the MEAP) and he is afraid he's going to mess it up. I guess his teacher has said that kids who don't pass get held back. I'm losing it a bit because, if true, that's B.S. He comes from a long line of smart people who suck at test taking. Any help you could give would be great. We've been doing the online pre testing (I'm doing this to calm him down even though I don't put much stock in assessment testing) and he's heard that this is "last year's" and that this year's test will be different. I know this sounds piddley but this is tearing the house asunder lately. Thanks!

[Redbear]

1. What grade?

TAKS are a horrible thing and cause so much anxiety, but few kids fail (at least in the younger years.)

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. 5th grade.

We had the MEAP in Michigan but that was more for parents and home values than for grade assessment. I told him to do his best and not to worry about it but every single piece of homework he brings home is TAKS math oriented and it's all over the map.

[WolverineDG]

3. Oh God I hate the TAKS

it's the reason 2 of my family members quit teaching this year (50 years + experience combined) & I am so glad I ran screaming from the teaching profession when I did.

If you think 5th grade is fun, wait until 8th grade science, where they expect the kids to know stuff they haven't even covered yet as well as stuff they haven't covered in 2 or 3 years. :crazy: :grr: :nuke:

dg

[tbyg52]

4. I wouldn't wish teaching a TAKS subject on my worst enemy. nt

[onetiredmom]

5. Promotion is based on passing the TAKS.

In response to "social promotions", kids who have not mastered the studies for a specific grade but went to the next grade anyway, standardized testing was put in place. The state and Texas Education Agency (TEA) set up standards that have to be met before a student can pass to the next grade. You either know it or you don't. Everyone is tested exactly the same.

A student is given 3 times to pass the test. If the student passes the reading part but not the math, he would just take the math portion again. If the student still does not pass after 3 attempts, there are some official channels you can go through to have the student promoted but there are stipulations like having summer study, appealing through a committee, etc.

TAKS is not perfect by any means but I understand the need to see if students have command of subjects for their grade. My child is also preparing to take the tests. I am a recovering teacher so have been on both sides of the issue and can see pro & con for each side.

Here is a news article about the test: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/moms/5865084.html

You can go to the TEA website and read lots about the test, see sample tests, etc. Do you have a relationship with the teacher? I would strongly suggest having a conversation with her about how best to help your son. She has a stake in him passing and has dealt with the test before, so she might really be helpful on a one to one basis.

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. I've been hanging out on the TEA website since this whole thing

started. My problem is I don't like test based teaching and I never will. His teacher agrees with me that the 5th grade math is just all over the map and is ridiculous. Thanks for your input.

[Hangingon]

9. Better tell your son's teacher to get familiar with TEKS if she

thinks TAKS is "all over the place" The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills specifies what a student should master at each grade level. It is the curriculum. If you teach it, your students should be prepared for the test. TAKS is not perfect but is a test with a long history and many of the bugs are worked out.

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. I think my son's teacher (district teacher for 20 years) does just fine.

It's the test that stinks. :hi:

[Hangingon]

12. Sorry you don't like tests.

TAKS isn't perfect but it is doing the job. If the teacher thinks the tewst is "all over the place" I think she would do well to look at the TEKS. Years of experience do not always mean a great deal. If you learned only how to do the job the first year it says to me 1 yewars experience times 20 - or the teacher has not adapted changing conditions.

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. Not all tests. Just this one. I think I'm going to stick with the educator.

I'm sorry I've disturbed you.

[Hangingon]

14. Have not disturbed me at all.

Just trying to shed some light on TAKS andd testing. I like the Texas process. Good luck with your choice.

[mbperrin]

7. TAKS is a test in search of an audience. Original form was used for the

USAF to test incoming recruits until the late 70s. Then the publishers of the test needed to sell it to someone. H. Ross Perot and the education task force were right there to pick up the slack, giving millions of dollars to the testing companies to harm Texas school children.

Evidence it's harmful?

Every year since 1984, when the TEAMS test (precursor to present TAKS) was made mandatory, state scores have gone up and SAT scores have gone down.

The TAKS teaches all the wrong test skills - it's untimed, the opposite of SAT and other tests, and the results are used in a way to guarantee weird results.

For instance, secondary schools' ratings are figured off their 10th grade scores, but the 10th grade scores don't count for the student. Instead, the 11th grade scores determine whether the student graduates or not, but does not count on school ratings. Children are not stupid, so they screw off the 10th grade test and do their best on the 11th grade test - this is why nearly all schools show big jumps between those tests.

It also gives those selling remedial and tutorial programs a reason for districts to buy millions of dollars worth of products (look! Your 10th grade scores are terrible - buy this!), and then, by magic, those 11th grade scores jump right up!

It's a great money-making scheme for the private company that owns and scores the tests, as well as prep materials and remediation materials.

Unfortunately, it's killing real education and teaching. If it's not on TAKS, it doesn't get taught.

So - no Civil War, no Thomas Jefferson, just to name two, because they're not on the TAKS.

I'm no conspiracy theorist - I've got three decades teaching at the secondary level, as well as a master's in education with an emphasis on authentic assessment.

[onetiredmom]

8. I wasn't arguing if it was good or bad.

I was simply trying to give information.

[Hangingon]

10. TEKS/TAKS

The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) is the curriculum defined as the state went from TAAS to TAKS. The curriculum was developed, reviewed and approved by committees of Texas educators from univerity, high school and elementary levels. The TEKS curriculum was then reviewed and approved by the State Board of Education. Items for the TAKS tests were then written by Texas educators, not taken from USAF tests or any other tests. Each item was reviewed by a committee of Texas educators representing all 20 regions, and including different ethnicities. A special education teacher as well as an ESL teacher were included as often as possible. Items edited and/or approved by this committee were then field tested. After field test results were available, these same items, with data, were reviewed by a different committee of Texas educators. If the committee decided the item was not approprite for any reason, it was never used on a live test.

There are many "test prep" materials for sale by all kinds of sources. It is up to districts and regional service centers to choose approproiate materials reviewing the curriculum, and avoiding trick prep solutions.