The day my students’ standardized testing scores are linked to my salary is the day I quit teaching, for good.
Today, I proctored the ACT Aspire test for a group of 11 freshmen. The ACT Aspire is basically a pre-ACT test. I’ve talked to my freshmen extensively about the importance of trying their best.
We began the English section at 8:03 a.m. By 8:06 a.m., one of the students had finished and submitted his 60 question English exam.
I walked over to him and said, “How are you done?”
He smiled. “I didn’t try. This doesn’t matter.”
My blood boiled as I walked away.
Four minutes later, another student had finished his English test in a record seven minutes.
These students do not know - or care, probably - that Melissa and I attended countless meetings because their fall scores were low. We discussed how to combat lack of motivation, how to increase writing in freshman English, incentives we can offer, etc.
Etc.
Etc.
I had heart-to-hearts with my students about being motivated to do well. I’ve told them that whereas their scores don’t directly affect their grades, they can affect their placement next year. They can affect whether they need interventions. They can affect our school as a whole in ways they can’t even comprehend.
But, on the test day, none of that matters. Instead, it’s a quick one-and-done, rush through, don’t check my answers.
They’re not even allowed to pull out cell phones or use their computers. They have to read a book or stare into space.
I know there are students in my testing room that tried their best and took the test seriously. But these outliers change the whole dynamic in the testing room.
But it’s me who gets the last laugh, and gets to teach the other students a valuable lesson.
Because remember Mr. Three Minutes?
He got bored and became disruptive, so I had him removed from my room. He will face disciplinary action. Plus, my other students got to see him be removed by an administrator.
And on the math test, they tried just a little bit harder.
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