The past week was busy as always. I'll just write about one part.
Thursday I took part in standard setting for a test that will measure beginning teachers' knowledge of the fundamentals of reading instruction. There were 18 educators in the group ranging from college of education professors to one first year teacher. We took a sample of the test and spent time deciding how difficult the items might be for preservice teachers.
Of course I had opinions and expressed them when given the opportunity. I have a problem with testing when one test decides the fate of someone. I feel the students should be able to pass the test if they have passed their courses. College professors should let students know if they are not good candidates before they have spent time and money in a field that doesn't fit their abilities.
I feel that all teachers should be really smart and capable of multitasking, kid-watching, reflective, curriculum experts. There is no way they can start teaching with all of those skills in place. No test can discover what kind of teacher a person will be.
In my own experience, I left the state because I didn't want to take the national teachers' exam. It was expensive and I was insulted that my degree from an accredited state school of education was not enough to fulfill the requirements for a teaching certificate. When I think back and remember the time (1972) and what was going on in the schools in this state, I think I know why this test was a requirement. I may look into that one day.
I'm glad I got to be part of the standard setting even if I don't really like exams.
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