NCLB Rachets up Teaching to the Test Pressure

Teaching to the Test is driven by The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), and the is up for renewal.

And while we thing that Teaching to the Test is important, we don't believe that the NCLB has played a beneficial role in educating our children. In fact, the NCLB has created a negative impact on Teaching to the Test efforts.

Here is what really happens:

* Teachers are pressured by principals, so the curriculum focuses upon the high-stakes test

* Students are bored, so the teacher "puts more pressure on the kids"

* Practice Tests are expensive, so teachers buy "Black Line Master" test books at the teacher supply store

* The "Black Line Master" books are not related to the curriculum, but students sit for hours practicing these tests to "get test-taking" skills

* Students are restless, so teachers put more pressure on them

* The pressure that teachers put on students concerning the practice tests causes students to associate "TESTS" with "PAIN."

This cycle is all wrong!

In fact Teaching to the Test should be and can be engaging, fun, exciting, interesting, rewarding and full of solid curricular learning.

What is needed is for teachers to make their own tests for Teaching to the Test. This is easy with your own templates.

We are developing a new template that is based upon state standards, but you can create your own right now with a word processor.

Then, just copy some curriculum materials into the "selection" area, and fill out the questions.

But, there is one other key to Teaching to the Test. That is...

Use all sorts of...

* Engaging

* Hands-on

* Individual or Group

* Learning Projects

* Take Home Assignments

* Debates

* Contests

* Games

to Teach to the Test.

Forcing students to sit quietly and struggle with boring copies of Black Line Master test books is "cruel and unusual punishment," but unfortunately, "business as usual" for an unenlightened Teaching to the Test effort.

Do Teaching to the Test the right way, and your students learn.

And you benefit by building a climate for learning in your classroom.


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