Monday, April 19

Brief Thoughts on Teaching to the Test: aka-TAKS Test


TAKS: At Least Our Children Won't Share Our ExperienceIn this blog,  Sarah briefly touches on a "new accountability system for Texas public schools," which is said to "increase academic standards, deemphasize the TAKS test score, give students more flexability on class choices, and make a high school diploma count for more."


Sarah and I pretty much have the same beliefs on this topic. She states that she believes that "the system will not only create less stress for the students but will allow teachers to actually teach beyond the TAKS curriculum. The "system also will address physical education needs" of the students."
As an aspiring educator myself, I am a firm supporter of not "teaching to the test." However, I believe that some (most) teachers have become so comfortable and used to teaching to this curriculum throughout their carreer, that it's too late to change their teaching styles. A teacher has the devine right to teach however they choose to. Whether they choose to send slower learning children out into the hall with a tutor during their class lecture, or they decide to actually "teach" those children and work with them at their own personal learning levels, leading them to success. This success doesn't have to be shown in a TAKS score. I believe that incorporating important life skills into the school's classrooms, like teaching that slower learner to never give up to build his/her confidence in themselves, is the key to success. Not only will this "new accountability system" decrease the amount of stress on students and teachers, hopefully, it will help change the teaching style that so many educators have become accustomed to.
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