For the past couple weeks, we have had a panel of different groups of people (Administrators, Teachers, Board Members and Parents) at our Monday night class. We have asked them very similar questions from week to week, one being about their feelings about No Child Left Behind. I found it particularly interesting that the significance of No Child Left Behind seemed to deteriorate as we moved down the "Totem pole." The board members seemed to believe that No Child Left Behind is a good thing. They are able to use the results from the test scores and evaluate how the schools are doing. The Administrators thought that it was also a pretty good thing. They could use it to see how their particular school is doing, how they have improved and perhaps look at how well a teacher is doing. The Teachers didn't seem to care to much about it. They are hands-on with their students. They believe that if you are doing a good job teaching your students, the test scores will reflect that. Yes, there will be students who aren't good test-takes and what-not, but overall if you are teaching well, it will be reflected.
The parents. This was my favorite panel. They seemed to bring in an outside perspective. They did not like the idea of No Child Left Behind, because all of this data is thrown at them, and they don't understand it. It's important as a future educator that we realize that sometimes we are speaking a different language. We know how to read the data and other educational terms, but parents don't necessarily understand. One parent even said that he stopped going to parent-teacher conferences because he was just being told data. How sad! Parent-teacher conferences about data doesn't tell a parent anything. Parents want to know how they can help their child, how their child is socially, etc. Not data!
So what can I take away from all of this information? 1. The importance of No Child Left Behind depends on if it is useful to that group of people involved with the schools 2. Don't worry too much about teaching to the test. If I am doing a good job teaching, test results will reflect that 3. Create a good parent-teacher relationship. Talk to them about what is important to them as a parent.
The parents. This was my favorite panel. They seemed to bring in an outside perspective. They did not like the idea of No Child Left Behind, because all of this data is thrown at them, and they don't understand it. It's important as a future educator that we realize that sometimes we are speaking a different language. We know how to read the data and other educational terms, but parents don't necessarily understand. One parent even said that he stopped going to parent-teacher conferences because he was just being told data. How sad! Parent-teacher conferences about data doesn't tell a parent anything. Parents want to know how they can help their child, how their child is socially, etc. Not data!
So what can I take away from all of this information? 1. The importance of No Child Left Behind depends on if it is useful to that group of people involved with the schools 2. Don't worry too much about teaching to the test. If I am doing a good job teaching, test results will reflect that 3. Create a good parent-teacher relationship. Talk to them about what is important to them as a parent.
2 comments:
I like your summary in the last paragraph. Those are good goals!
Anna, I just wrote about how my thoughts on No Child Left Behind changed as we progressed through the different panels.
Good summary of principles!
Post a Comment