CHARLES BEAMS spoke of And Now This.. to DAN TRIPLETT on 10-26-96
CB>In response to a message to Charles on ...
CB> 
CB>DT>The EALR's are put out by the Commission of Student Learning and 
CB>DT>are legislated.  Schools will be held accountable for results.  
CB> 
CB>I think that's terrific.  We can't allow each individual teacher to 
CB>set standards or we'll continue to promote programs that graduate 
CB>children who have few skills.  Will there be periodic testing in 
CB>your schools to make sure the kids are keeping up?
I don't know that the State is the best ones to issue standards, but in 
this case it worked very well.  The commission included businesses, 
parents, teachers, and administrators.  What they have designed looks 
very good.  It was several years in the making.  I hope the State puts 
its money where its mouth is.  Last year they cut Special Ed 
funding...made a big cut and we lost most of our paraprofessionals.
Our benchmark tests occur beginning at 4th grade. Not sure where else.  
One of the current discussion centers around having a grade-to-grade 
consistency so that benchmarks can be achieved.  I agree that individual
teachers should not set standards for their classrooms.  In our district
we have always had grade level outcomes or standards set by the 
district.    
CB>DT>I work very hard to get every 
CB>DT>student as close to those standards as I can.  But I can tell you,
CB>DT>without a doubt, Andrew and Derick and a few others will not make
CB>DT>it. 
CB>Given the new "standards" philosophy then, they should be kept back, 
CB>and remediated, until they *do* measure up.  For decades now we've 
CB>promoted kids like this at every grade level and they fall farther 
CB>and farther behind until they graduate with elementary reading and 
CB>math skills.  
Retention just isn't done very much in our district...although we do 
retain a few each year.  Most are sent on to the next grade level.  
Those in Spec. Ed. won't ever meet the standards but most likely will 
move up with their classmates.  Then there are the borderline kids.  
They are usually promoted as well.  It usually takes an extreme to hold 
a kid back.
CB>DT>Many kindergarten children can barely spell their name.
CB> 
CB>Even at the end of the year?  I know that _used_ to be true when 
CB>Kindergarten was half-day and viewed as "school-adjustment" 
CB>training, but today I thought that bar had been raised.
By the end of the year it may still be a few kids.  Kindergarten is 
still half-days most places I know.  Although research shows......
I hope that my kids not only will spell their names correctly, but that 
they will know all their letters, shapes, numerals to at least 25, one-
to-one to at least 25, some sounds, recognize simple words, recognize 
and duplicate simple math patterns, and have an abundance of social 
skills necessary for school life.  Many will make it to this level and 
beyond.  Some however just aren't developmentally ready (even though 
they are old enough).
CB> 
CB>DT>Any spelling testing at this level would be completely 
CB>DT>inappropriate -- At least in my experience (I have seen at least
CB>DT>450  different students over the past 8 years and this is true for
CB>DT>nearly all  of them.)
CB> 
CB>Perhaps, then, my comments are more appropriately aimed at first
CB>grade.  
Well, you know my views on spelling testing.  But at first grade my 
expectations would certainly be higher than it is in kindergarten.  
Spelling would be taught in the same way I teach it in kindergarten -- 
within the context of writing.  I would add a few more way to teach 
spelling at this level but testing would not be one of them.  But to be 
sure, I would concentrate on teaching some spelling strategies even at 
this grade level.
CB>DT>This year I have two children who stand out as early readers 
CB>DT>(already!) and have had both tested by the reading specialist.  I
CB>DT>am  struggling to keep them challenged.
CB> 
CB>That can be a challenge as well. Do you have programs for them?
Yes and I am trying to get things for them that will stretch them even 
further.  It's more work for me and I can hardly keep up with them.  
They are so patient with me.  
Dan
--- GEcho 1.11+
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