FCAT Retake Anxiety: It's Real for Both Teachers and Students!

In order for my students who are taking the Reading FCAT retakes a week from tomorrow, today I downloaded the ePat Launcher software. They will have one practice test. Though I have been creating online testing simulations, the students are concerned about not being on this software to practice many times.

Since this is not a new concept, I am perplexed with the idea that we do not have more practice tests in the new online testing format. Why isn’t FCAT Explorer converted into the new format. There is a big difference between taking an online test and pencil paper test. Are the students, teachers, and parents the only ones who understand this? I feel like a skipping CD. Is this more about money and less about student success? I have to answer this question with a mighty YES!
Let’s not forget that our paid is tied to these new online tests too. Teachers feel their hands are tied. Students feel like both their hands and feet are tied in knots. What else can I do to make them feel better? I praise, encourage, teach them with whatever tools I have, and I hope for the best.

Teachers feel powerless often to the laws, policies, and new testing requirements and procedures coming down. We seem, for many, to be the last people constituents want to listen to or respect now days. I hope someone reading this will email or call our state representatives and our governor and tell them enough is enough! Write the president too! Flood the White House. Now is a good a time as any!

Here is a complete email list. Click here!

Highlights of an Engaging Week

#1- This week we practiced taking an online FCAT, as we prepare for the FCAT retakes. With no software to practice with as of yet, students open a pdf FCAT file I have linked to my website. They open a word pad document and adjust it to be on 1/3rd of their page. It is less than 30 days away. I don't want my students to fail because they are not used to reading the test online and typing notes instead of writing them. I hope that teaching them how to set up these practice tests will lessen their test taking anxiety and help them to pass this test. I mean really. How is it possible that we did not have practice software at the start of the school year? As usual, we do what we can and hope for the best. Changes are being made with little thought in regards to the people it will effect. Nevertheless, one must move on and try to remain hopeful.

#2I have been looking for ways to make vocabulary learning concrete. Too often students try to memorize the words the night before or as they are coming in the doors. I want them to learn the words and be able to use them in their future. I know this if they can write a sentence for each one using a context clue. No short-term multiple tests for me. This is a bear to grade, but it's worth it to me.

This week we I took teacher made quiz cards and allowed them to play the Kagan review game: Show Down. I put a neat spin on the game. For every time the WHOLE team was able to spell the word or write the definition, they got to wad up their papers and "shoot" them into the trashcan. I was telling them all week to get ready for the opportunity to make shots with their papers. Tell your team mates to study and get ready. It was a win-win.

Commisoner Smith Resigns Today; His Last Day Will Be on June 10th, 2011

In my attempts to "keep it real" and as things continue to heat up in the education climate, here is the most recent news I was made aware of this afternoon: Commissioner Smith resigned today and his last day will be June 10th, 2011.

The following is a copy of the email I received by JUSTFORTEACHERS-L@LSERV.FLDOE.ORG today. The message below shows the progress Florida's educators have made over the past three years; there are other initiatives that have begun as a result of many peoples' hard work.

One has to wonder why public education is taking so many steps backwards. We worked so hard for so long. Feeling like we have been jumping through hoops that have been delivered down from the House, we have still made strides but we are still faced with the recent changes in legislation. Are more stakeholders going to abandon this ship? Please ponder the implications of his decision though I respect it. I hope it inspires you to stand up and speak up for public education. Sometimes resigning is one way of speaking up and out.
___________________________________________________________
Earlier today, Commissioner Smith informed the public of his resignation effective June 10. I've worked closely with Dr. Smith for many months now and I can say with complete sincerity that he has always appreciated the work of Florida's teachers and the extraordinary job they do for the benefit of students. Please see below for Commissioner Smith's full resignation statement which includes the successes of which he is most proud to have worked with you to accomplish.

This past weekend, I informed the members of the State Board of Education of my intention to resign as Florida’s Commissioner of Education effective June 10, 2011, the last day of this school year. It has been my privilege to serve as Commissioner during a period in which Florida demonstrated bold national leadership in the field of education. The time has come, however, to allow our newly elected Governor to have input through the State Board of Education on the type of leader to pursue his goals for education.

I am very proud of the significant accomplishments achieved by the hard work and aspirations of Florida’s students and educators during the past three years. The following are highlights:

• Florida was ranked 5th in the nation in the 2010 Quality Counts report by Education Week up from 31st in 2007, which tracks state policies and performance across key areas of education.
• Florida was one of only four states in the nation to improve significantly in both fourth and eighth grade reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), with significant gains for Florida’s African-American and Hispanic students outpacing their counterparts in the nation.
• Florida’s graduation rate climbed to 79 percent in 2010, a new high for our state, with significant increases for minority students.
• More than 120,000 students entered kindergarten better prepared in 2010 as a result of their participation in our state’s Voluntary PreKindergarten (VPK) program.
• In 2010, the number of AP exams administered to Florida’s public school students increased 19.5 percent and the number of students receiving a passing score on an AP exam jumped 14.5 percent. Because of this achievement Florida has the third highest number of students taking the AP exam compared to the nation and ranks fourth in the nation for the number of students scoring 3 or higher.
• At the same time, participation in Dual Enrollment coursework increased 18.4 percent, with a 12.2 percent increase in the number of students earning college credit in these courses.
• For the eighth year in a row, Community College Week’s 2010 annual top 100 report honored Florida’s state colleges with the top spots in terms of degrees earned.

While these are impressive achievements, over the past three years, we have also developed and have begun to implement the following strategies to drive future progress:

• In August 2010, Florida was named a winner in the Race to the Top competition, securing $700 million in federal funds to revolutionize the state’s education system.
• Last week, the Florida Legislature passed landmark legislation called the Student Success Act that will reform the teaching profession and allow our state to better attract and retain high-quality teachers and remove the low-performing teachers from the classroom.
• The Florida Department of Education took a leadership role nationally, developing Common Core Standards and now serves as the fiscal agent for the national consortium of states to develop assessments that will measure student performance on these standards.
• In 2010, legislation was enacted to require more rigorous graduation requirements to ensure that students leave high school better prepared for college and a career.
• A new high school grading formula was implemented that gives parents a more comprehensive look at their student’s school in terms of college and career readiness.
• Florida integrated federal and state requirements resulting in a reduction in reporting and a solid process was implemented to identify and support the state’s persistently low achieving schools.

The foundations are in place and the expectations are clear that Florida will be number one in education! The future is promising and very exciting for our students.

It has been an honor to serve both the State Board of Education as well as the members of the Florida’s Legislature. These individuals have made incredible efforts to build upon the bold education reforms established by Governor Jeb Bush allowing us to progress both quickly and successfully. It also has been a pleasure to work with the talented individuals in the Department of Education who continue to demonstrate commitment to serving students, parents and teachers of our wonderful state.

I thank the state of Florida for the privilege and honor to have served as its Education Commissioner. There always will be a special place in my family’s heart for this blessed state and its students.

Eric Smith


Kelly Seay
Teacher Liaison
Florida Department of Education
Office of Communications
325 W. Gaines Street, Suite 1524
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400

Standardized Testing vs Real World Preperation: It's a Tug-of-War!

The link below is from the October 17th, 2005 NPHS Bobcat Sentinel newspaper. Students reported about the new 10th grade graduation requirements. I was interviewed for this article. However, this test was given once and removed. There was talk about moving it to 11th grade and or that it was returning. It is 2011, and it is not back. It has not resurfaced in another grade level either. Yet, educators watch the testing forecast because the need to be cognizant of the educational climate and new standards that are always lurking over over and around us.

I am sharing this article because it illustrates some of the uncertainties educators face when tests are being changed and developed. A tremendous amount of time and money was spent on researching benchmark test specifications for this test. A group of teachers actually worked on mapping the curriculum to align both 9th and 10th grade instruction to the standards covered in the FCAT Writing Plus exam. This is great, but when the test was omitted, did teachers stop teaching grammar and punctuation? Some did!

The other concern that I have always had is why standardized tests seem to influence what is being taught. Students need to learn how to write whether there is a test for it or not. The basics and critical thinking should be taught; instruction should be explicit and vertically aligned. If not, one could learn about the government for three years in a row in elementary school and get no new information. Worse yet, they could become bored hearing the same things over and over. I have no problem with teaching government, but each year there should be a progression of what is being taught and when. Teachers cannot teach just because they like a certain part of their subject area. It would be like me teaching poetry all year because that is what I love the most. Why that would be an injustice to our students. Do important basic skills like speaking get put aside to make room for more FCAT instruction time? For many, it has. What about public speaking? It is one of the four modes of Language Arts that has been put on the back burner. Though it is not tested on the FCAT, many teachers do not teach public speaking skills because there is not enough time. This is a problem because students need to be prepared to speak at interviews, meetings, trainings, and even in social settings. Isn't education supposed to be about creating active citizens and not just good test takers?

Another laborious problem that teachers face is that they need to follow how various tests will change; they need to know what is coming up too! In short, so many teachers focus on what is being tested; yet, this is exhausting but necessary. If one is not careful, it can steal the joy right out of teaching. It's a walk of balance. My friend, past mentor, and colleague, Vicky Harris, once told me to "remember that the education pendulum is always swinging. It will swing this way and then back. Just do your best." This is great advice that I try to follow everyday. After all, it's really about my students. What do they need?

When it is all said and done, the real tightrope dance is learning to teach what needs to be taught according to both state and national standards while helping kids excel on state and district tests. This has to be done without taking the joy out of teaching and learning. Passing tests does not mean real world success, and an excellent teacher motivates his or her students with relevant topics and activities while integrating standards and test taking skills. So for now, I continue to follow the testing weather forecast and the educational political climate, but I remember the importance of getting kids ready for the real world.

It might appear that I am against standardized testing, but I am not. I do think that students should be able to find the main idea, compare and contrast, infer, analyze, find cause and effect relationships, and be able to use context clues. They should have a basic understanding of the language semantics. They need to be able to read web pages and evaluate them. In short, these are all part of the 9th and 10th grade FCAT Reading test. I may not agree with some of the educational reforms such as NCLB (No Child Left Behind) or the new "Race to the Top" educational initiative coming down the pike, but I do believe in educating and motivating kids to look to their future!

http://www.sarasota.k12.fl.us/nphs/npnews/NewFiles/2005%20Oct.%20Web%20Sentinel.pdf