Standardized Testing...GRRRRR...

I don’t like any standardized test that I’ve run across so far. They really stress out the kids and don’t seem to reflect everyone’s strengths. Some kids do great with this type of testing, while many (I would say most) have a hard time taking these. I believe standardized testing has an unhealthy hold over our current educational system, and it may be getting worse. The idea that teacher pay may be based on how students do on this test will just make everyone crazy. Why not open up school choice and let each school compete for students. Parents will chose the schools that best educate their students. This certainly isn’t the only answer, and I see the need to assess schools, students, and teachers on a national level, but this isn’t it!


CRT – ELA English Language Art. This will be taken by all my junior high and high school students at the end of the year. There is a reading and writing portion of this test.

DWA – This is the big writing test that my eighth graders have to take. I worked a lot with my students to prepare for this test. I am really unhappy that this is switching to computer-based scoring. I just don’t understand how they can use the six traits to rate the essays, and then turn it over to a compute to judge things like ideas and voice. I’ve done some research on this one, and there are things that I think make a less interesting essay, such as “In conclusion” in the final paragraph, but it will give a student a higher score in the organization category. The good thing is that it isn’t a very time-consuming test and most students are pretty relaxed completing it.

IOWA – This will affect my all 8th graders at the start of the year and it covers both reading and language arts.

NAEP- This also has a reading and language arts portion for the 8th graders. A sample of students are chosen through the sate to participate in this test.

UPASS – All students from grades 3-12 have to take this at the end of year. It rates the overall status of a school.


UBSCT – I hate this test. It seems ridiculous and the information is confusing. The students are only expected to know half the information because it is just a norm-based test, but it is extremely discouraging for the students to feel they are missing so many questions. They are used to knowing what they are being tested on and even if they reach the goal of knowing half, that still feels like they’re failing. I have witnessed kids melting down over this one.