| |
|
|
| |
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!)
1.Mrs. Madison's assessment dilemma is not an unfamiliar situation in today's education system. People from all over the world are moving to the United States to take advantage of great opportunities. More and more teachers feel they are not prepared to teach ESL students in their classroom. Many teachers have never had an ESL student and therefore are nervous about how to approach the student and their family, and figure out the best way to teach and communicate with them.
2.I believe that the principal of Smith Elementary was putting unneeded pressure on Mrs. Madison. Mrs. Madison needs to research different teaching strategies if she is not comfortable teaching her new ESL students, and not look at these students as test scores. I believe that the principal has low expectations of the ESL students and that is unfair to the students. These are children that are very young, and have the capability to learn very fast.
3.Mrs. Madison should first figure out what country her students are coming from. If at all possible she should make a few labels in English and the ESL students' language to identify items around the room (door, restroom, sink, blocks, book bags, etc.). Mrs. Madison should also collaborate with the ESL teacher in her school. The ESL teacher will have ideas for Mrs. Madison, and maybe even a specific plan for these students. One thing Mrs. Madison should not do is exclude her ESL students from whole class activities. Including these ESL students will help them grasp English much faster. Mrs. Madison needs to work with these students as much as she can, but not push them too hard because she wants them to have high test scores. These students will learn at their own pace and do not need extra testing pressure added on top of learning a new language. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
|
| Comments: |
| Rated On: February 11, 2013 3:51 pm |
| Rated By: Kaleigh Thomas |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
|
| Comments: |
| Rated On: February 12, 2013 1:02 pm |
| Rated By: Tamra Lamb |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
|
| Comments: |
| Rated On: February 14, 2013 8:27 pm |
| Rated By: Nicole Strenkowski |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
|
| Comments: Your solution was the first to say that the principle placed uneeded pressure on Mrs. Madison. It is Mrs. Madisson's first year teaching these students, she should not be expected to get the same high scores as the previous year because the demographics in her classroom has changed. |
| Rated On: October 19, 2014 8:27 pm |
| Rated By: ySaryN |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
|
| Comments: I think this is the solution because the teacher should learn about the student's new culture and integrate that in the classroom. On the other hand, she needs to talk to her administrator so they can set realistic goals for standardized tests for the students. |
| Rated On: October 15, 2016 7:09 pm |
| Rated By: Maritza |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Rating
| The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
|
| The suggested solution is original |
Yes
|
| Comments: I would use this in my classroom |
| Rated On: October 17, 2022 3:19 am |
| Rated By: NyXaze |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
