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Case: Assessment Dilemma For the last several years, the administrators and the teaching staff at Smith Elementary School have been happy to report their school's high achievement test scores. The school district has spent countless dollars on professional development workshops for teachers. Assessment experts have presented valuable information on test taking strategies that bring positive results. Mrs. Madison, who teaches second grade, has faithfully attended all of the information packed presentations. She can now reap the benefits of her new approach to standardized testing. Her students' scores last year far exceeded her expectations as a classroom teacher. Mrs. Madison was very pleased with the level of academic performance her students displayed on the end of year exams. Ironically, these latest scores arrived on the same day Mrs. Madison received her student list for the upcoming school year. After reviewing the names of her new second graders, Mrs. Madison became quite concerned. The list of students revealed two last names that were obviously not typical American names. After a brief conversation with the principal of her school, she learned that an expanding business in the area had hired employees from other countries to join their corporation. As a result, new families were moving into the local community to work at this prestigious business. These specialized employees were moving their families into an unfamiliar country and culture in order to take advantage of an opportunity to work in the United States. The principal informed Mrs. Madison that these new students coming to Smith Elementary would be hearing the English language for the first time. The determined principal also relayed to Mrs. Madison the importance of maintaining their school's reputation of producing high test scores. Mrs. Madison was now facing an unfamiliar task of teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) students and upholding high standardized assessment scores. Questions: 1. Is Mrs. Madison's assessment dilemma an unfamiliar situation in today's educational system? 2. Was the principal of Smith Elementary School asking too much of Mrs.? Madison? 3. How could Mrs. Madison prepare for her new ESL students? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) Mrs. Madison's dilemma is not unfamiliar in today's educational system. Standardized assessments are a big deal in the school system and are being pushed on every level. It is also no surprise to see second language learners in the classroom. In the past few year in my hometown, LaGrange, we built a new Kia plant and had a large Korean population move to LaGrange to work there. The children of these workers were sent to school, so many of my teachers delt with this same dilemma. I believe it is the principal's job to have high expectations for the teachers and the school, but this should not put too much pressure on the students or teachers. Mrs. Madison should try to hold the new ESL students to the same standard, but if these students are stuggling to understand the material, extra time must be taken with them. This may mean these students do not score as high on the standardized tests, but as long as they are learning in the classroom, that is what matters. Mrs. Madison should work with an ESL teacher and possibly take some ESL classes herself to prepare for this new group of students whom she has never delt with before. She must be prepared to switch up her old way of teaching to accomodate these new students. I think flexibility is going to be key for her this year. |
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