IF I'm this nervous for the state test imagine how the kids are feeling?

**imagine** · 03-30-2010, 09:04 AM

Well it is state test time in my area. Son has tests today for the next three days and daughter has them next week. Math only this go round

I'm so nervous for the test. I have knots in my tummy and feel like I'm going to throw up. If I'm this nervous as an adult not taking the test imagine how the children and teachers feel.

Where we live if you doing pass the test with a high C average or if you pass with a high C average but are on the lower end of the ranking with your peers you have to take an additional math class as your elective. Son usually makes A and B's in math but one year he got nervous that he would miss lunch and hurried and messed up the test and had to take additional math class. While I grateful that the students that need the help get the help I find it sad that they have to exchange that help for elective like the arts or foreign language.

I so hope that son does well on his tests this week.

I'm so nervous!

Apparently I'm so nervous I can't type the title correctly. just an example of silly mistakes that happen when nervous. Silly mistakes can really bring down your score.

**AmyBoz** · 03-30-2010, 09:07 AM

State tests are ridiculous. They are not a good measure of student progress, particularly because they don't measure a students progress from year to year, but measure the scores of one class against the scores of the next class. Apples to oranges. It takes away the ability for teachers to create a love of learning for learning sake. Just awful.

**Russ** · 03-30-2010, 09:10 AM

Fixed the title for you

Moms are always nervous for their children, usually more so than the children.

**porembam** · 03-30-2010, 09:21 AM

I'm not a fan of state tests.
This worry you feel is real but is unnecessary for young children.
At least with SAT's the students are 16 , college bound and the test is nationwide.
Now teachers of young students are forced to teach to a test and children lose the excitement of learning.

**imagine** · 03-30-2010, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by Russ

Fixed the title for you

Moms are always nervous for their children, usually more so than the children.

Thanks!

Does that up my test score or am I counted off extra?

To tell you the truth I think my son is more nervous that I am.

As for the nervousness I only have to go through it this year 3 times with Buddy (Math Reading/Language arts and Science) and twice with Little Miss (Math and Reading/Language Arts)

**imagine** · 03-30-2010, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by AmyBoz

State tests are ridiculous. They are not a good measure of student progress, particularly because they don't measure a students progress from year to year, but measure the scores of one class against the scores of the next class. Apples to oranges. It takes away the ability for teachers to create a love of learning for learning sake. Just awful.

I guess that depends on how you look at it. Sure the scores compared for the national state report card are compared same grade/level to same grade level. Which would be comparing class against class.

We also get the kids personal scores and they compare them from year to year. On a line graph. Each child is expected to do better percent wise then they did on the test last year. They tell the children what % they have increased. The children that were already in the B range are expected to move up ( improve) and hopefully be in the A range. If you drop down a range then you are given some help. Everyone is expected to improve every year AYP - adequate yearly progress.
So even those that do great on the test have cause to worry.

Boy oh Boy

**WV_mom_of2** · 03-30-2010, 12:11 PM

I despise those standardized tests. Our state does them every year and it's just a mess. The teachers spend all year doing nothing, then spend the entire month of April pushing the students to "review" for the test. They still end up never teaching alot of what is on the test and spend an entire month without learning anything new at all.

The teachers here just go nuts over it. They harrass the students for a month or more, make nasty comments to them, and just act totally stupid. It's a test for heaven's sake.

I tell my kids to do their very best and not worry about it. Here the test only measures how well the school/teachers are doing. We get a grade for our child in each of the four subjects on the test but it doesn't affect their classroom grade, if they pass or fail, etc.

I get so mad every year when they send home the testing letter the week before. "please be sure your child goes to bed early and eats a good breakfast". I told the principal one time that it really ticked me off that they didn't care if kids went to bed early or had breakfast the rest of the year, just that one week. Heck they even give every child in the system free breakfast and snack every day that week.

I feel that it in no way shows what a child knows or is capable of. One year my dd was in a classroom at the end of the hallway. They were building new classrooms at the end of the hallway and my dd had to take that test while all that hammering and sawing was going on. She didn't do as well that year as she usually does. My ds does average on the tests but is a very smart young man. He HATES having to sit still for long periods of time with no breaks, no stretching, etc. He totally loses focus after a while and just wants to hurry and be done with it.

**porembam** · 03-30-2010, 12:19 PM

It made me laugh because I forgot about the letter for a good's night rest and good breakfast - It's apparent they don't worry about the rest of the year.

Originally Posted by WV_mom_of2

I despise those standardized tests. Our state does them every year and it's just a mess. The teachers spend all year doing nothing, then spend the entire month of April pushing the students to "review" for the test. They still end up never teaching alot of what is on the test and spend an entire month without learning anything new at all.

The teachers here just go nuts over it. They harrass the students for a month or more, make nasty comments to them, and just act totally stupid. It's a test for heaven's sake.

I tell my kids to do their very best and not worry about it. Here the test only measures how well the school/teachers are doing. We get a grade for our child in each of the four subjects on the test but it doesn't affect their classroom grade, if they pass or fail, etc.

I get so mad every year when they send home the testing letter the week before. "please be sure your child goes to bed early and eats a good breakfast". I told the principal one time that it really ticked me off that they didn't care if kids went to bed early or had breakfast the rest of the year, just that one week. Heck they even give every child in the system free breakfast and snack every day that week.

I feel that it in no way shows what a child knows or is capable of. One year my dd was in a classroom at the end of the hallway. They were building new classrooms at the end of the hallway and my dd had to take that test while all that hammering and sawing was going on. She didn't do as well that year as she usually does. My ds does average on the tests but is a very smart young man. He HATES having to sit still for long periods of time with no breaks, no stretching, etc. He totally loses focus after a while and just wants to hurry and be done with it.

**AmyBoz** · 03-30-2010, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by imagine

I guess that depends on how you look at it. Sure the scores compared for the national state report card are compared same grade/level to same grade level. Which would be comparing class against class.

Yes, but the problem is, states don't have the same standards. The tests aren't the same from state to state, so how on earth can we compare test scores? In fifth grade, NJ kids might be asked to multiply and divide fractions, where in CT (just an example...I have no idea what's on the CT test) kids might just be adding and subtracting fractions. Different content, different test, how can anyone make a comparison?

**YankeeMom** · 03-30-2010, 01:13 PM

I hate standardized testing. We homeschool and STILL have to submit to standardized testing every other year from gr 4-8 and every yr from 9-12. In fact, I just ordered the CAT tests for my 6th & 10th graders. If they don't get above a certain percentile, we will be put on "homeschool probation".

**imagine** · 03-30-2010, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by AmyBoz

Yes, but the problem is, states don't have the same standards. The tests aren't the same from state to state, so how on earth can we compare test scores? In fifth grade, NJ kids might be asked to multiply and divide fractions, where in CT (just an example...I have no idea what's on the CT test) kids might just be adding and subtracting fractions. Different content, different test, how can anyone make a comparison?

yes, the state tests are on the states objectives for each grade level. I bet that does vary from state to state. Some use it to judge how well their school is doing compared to a neighboring school. But that isn't even fair here as the kinds of students (special ed, English as a second language students) are not counted in a school if there percents are under a certain value. So you aren't comparing apples to apples even there.

The tests here sure do affect the school life of the students though. As do the other little school standardized test (not state test) given all the time too. Another math class instead of an elective, summer school, after school tutoring.

**Darlene** · 03-30-2010, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by AmyBoz

State tests are ridiculous. They are not a good measure of student progress, particularly because they don't measure a students progress from year to year, but measure the scores of one class against the scores of the next class. Apples to oranges. It takes away the ability for teachers to create a love of learning for learning sake. Just awful.

I agree Amy. Some kids don't "test" well and any kid can have a bad day for whatever reason and not do as well as they would on another day. Just too many things factor in. Testing of this kind is just another bureaucratic bunch of bs. jmho

**imagine** · 03-30-2010, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by Darlene

I agree Amy. Some kids don't "test" well and any kid can have a bad day for whatever reason and not do as well as they would on another day. Just too many things factor in. Testing of this kind is just another bureaucratic bunch of bs. jmho

And that bad day or Test jitters or grumbling belly could affect the opportunities that are available to the student.

Buddy did poorly on math test two years ago because he tested near lunch and as afraid he would miss lunch so he hurried. He also thought the quarter piece of scratch paper was all he was allowed.

So he got an extra math class the next year in which he missed going to Library class and Literature class. He did very well in the extra remedial math class and they patted themselves on the back. Then test time came. He realized and was reassured this time he didn't have to hurry if he missed lunch they would get him something to eat and that he could have all the scratch paper he wanted. His test scores jumped up 35% improvement (back to where he was before in the above average range LOL) and they really patted themselves and him on the back.
I'm sure the government loved that "increase" in test scores. Thus proving that the extra classes pay off and the tests were a good thing, right?

See why I'm so nervous.

**porembam** · 03-30-2010, 01:59 PM

Wow I can't believe a student needs to take a year of remedial math because they were scared to miss lunch - is this fair to young students?

**imagine** · 03-30-2010, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by porembam

Wow I can't believe a student needs to take a year of remedial math because they were scared to miss lunch - is this fair to young students?

No, it isn't fair!

Even his classroom teacher that year said that the test score seemed out of the ordinary for him.

He had to take the regular math class and the remedial math class So two math classes. When I asked why he needed to take the class (even though he had always had and A or B in regular math class and also did that year) They said it was because of his math score on that state assessment . They were required to prove that they were helping him by proving this class with a specialist because of the test score.

The next year his test score were in the high range so no extra math. If the test score slip again this year (today, tomorrow and the next day) The extra math class would be his elective. The extra math class would be in addition to the regularly scheduled math class.