Our school just finished up 2 1/2 days of NDSA (North Dakota State Assessment). For my students they do not take the same North Dakota Assessment as the rest of the population. My students take the NDAA (North Dakota Alternative Assessment). The window for administering the NDSA is from Oct. 16th to Nov. 13th. The window for administering the NDAA is from Nov. 16th to Dec. 22nd for the NDAA 2 and Jan. 16th for NDAA 1. As a department, we group the students who are taking NDSA with accommodations in specific rooms with certain teachers and para to help administer the test. For the students who are taking the NDAA, they grouped into two different rooms with different activities.
OK. now I am going to vent. At our school, for the two and a half days we did not have any classes and I had my students and some other special ed. teachers students in my room doing different activities (watching movies, playing games, on the computer, reading, and some caught up on their work) with a paraprofessional. When we first started to get ready for the test, the plan was I was going to start doing my alternative assessments. Then we got our dates that our window was going to be open and of course they do not match. So my students just had two and a half days of not learning and when my window opens, I will have to pull my students one at a time to administer the test. Not only they miss a class that I am teaching, I am too. I either have to have them have a free day or my para's have to do my instruction (they do not get us a sub for us). I have half of my caseload doing the NDAA 1 and the rest doing the NDAA 2. With 6th-8th graders, I will be administering (NDAA 2) 5 math tests, 5 reading/language arts, and 3 science test, all individually. Each student has as long as they need to take the each test, on average it will take over an hour to compete each section. So over 5 hours for math, 5 hours for reading/language arts, and 3 hours for science. To me, that is a lot of instructional time wasted.
I do not understand why the North Dakota Department of Instruction did not have the NDSA and the NDAA at the same time. We want to give our students the best education and losing at least 4 1/2 days of instruction is wrong.
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I am surprised that your school administration allows such random instruction/activities to occur for students who are not testing. It seems like paras should be able to handle running stations that are not necessarily new concepts but maybe a reviewing of materials. I agree that it would be nice to see some of the testing times overlap so schools could have an option to test at two different times or all together. My suggestion is if you want change say something or write something. I always think it does not hurt to ask. You might get an answer why the tests are administered during those specific time frames. Either way you will not be any worse off.
ReplyDeleteState testing is a period when many things get rearranged and the staff really has to be flexible and easy to work with during this time. I've learned that complaining doesn't accomplish a thing unless something is done or at least an effort is being put forth. I understand that if the state would at least administer both tests at the same time, less instructional time is wasted. But why waste any instructional time at all? Para's are worthwhile "instructional" aids that can teach students. Anyone can put in a movie...a para can teach. USE them to your advantage and have your class create a project or activity that coincides with your previous science or social lesson. Use these 4 and a half days to do something worthwhile, fun, and educational at the same time.
ReplyDeleteDenise