The sound I dread the most is the collective sigh of my fifth graders when I mention yet another upcoming standardized test. That sigh functions almost as the opposite of what a sigh is. Increasing tension instead of releasing it. Chipping away at our positive classroom environment. Adding more stressors that are certainly not needed in the lives of these ten and eleven year olds.
I recently asked my friends a question. These friends hold a wide range of jobs, had a wide range of degrees in college, and are all successful in their chosen careers. I asked them, “What are the three most important skills or traits that you feel like you possess that have made you successful in your career, field, and community?” Their answers were the ones I expected. They were also skills or traits that I feel like have helped to make me successful.
Taking action, commitment, never quitting, asking for advice, seeking guidance, being resourceful and adaptive, a positive attitude, problem solving skills, good communication skills, efficiency in your work, the ability to multi-task, confidence in yourself and your abilities, follow through and responsibly, listening, critical thinking
All different, yet all similar. I wanted to know this because I am constantly thinking about what skills I need to embed in my instruction in order to prepare my students to be successful, but also productive citizens in our democracy. But the question I asked my friends was really fired off in a moment of frustration spurred by the current push experienced by students and teachers in SC public schools. Standardized testing.
I’m not about to offer a systematic solution to this problem. I’m also not going to claim to know the answer or state that standardized tests have no place in schools. What I hope to convey is that teachers have a duty to their students no matter what new testing/data initiative is being pushed down their throats. And our duty as an educator in today’s world is to our students. Not to a test. Not to a number from a computer. To a human.
Standardized tests don’t assess humans. They don’t assess the skills needed to be successful in our society. Unfortunately, they encourage the opposite of the skills listed above. For example, resourceful…. we have to cover our walls prior to testing. Why? We teach kids to use resources, but they aren’t allowed to transfer this skill to standardized testing. Confidence… so many kids struggle to build confidence and standardized tests don’t highlight the strengths of our students. Instead, they increase anxiety and stress related to a number from a test. Effective communication… answering a prompt or bubbling in an answer choice builds zero skills to communicate effectively. There are so many skills that students demonstrate in my classroom that won’t be shown on a test. Collaboration, presentation skills, communication, research, creativity. All of these are so important in the 21st century, and yet, we don’t care to measure them.
As teachers, we feel the stressors of bending to the system, doing what we are told, and following the rules. Who can blame us? We are rule followers. But in this instant, from one rule follower to another, I’m challenging you to break the rules. Break the rules because our students depend on it. Don’t teach to the test. Tests don’t teach the skills needed to be successful. It’s fine to look at data and use it to help students be prepared and experience success. We would never want our students to flail because we didn’t guide them. But do test prep correctly. Don’t let it mold your teaching and learning. Don’t let it be your motivator. Keep your focus on your students. Continue to build instruction that teaches kids to be resourceful, multi-taskers who know how to think critically and communicate effectively. Teach human beings.
Because of a Teacher 