10.3

Today we discussed standards and how to hold teachers accountable for their students.  We discussed formative and summative assessments.  Neither of these, do I feel, are appropriate measures of teacher success.  When a student comes into 9th grade at a 5th grade reading level and leaves at an 8th grade level, the test will reflect failure onto that teacher. However, that is a very successful teacher.  Other classes that pass the end of the year test may not have had as much progress as that teacher.  Instead, we must look at progress made over the course of the year.  To do this would mean more work for everyone involved, but accuracy and accountability would improve drastically.  We must use graphs and charts to display progress made, NOT end of the year skills.   We also briefly discussed the CORE standards which will be put in place soon.  No Child LEft Behind was also mentioned.