Younger Students Outshine High Schoolers in Reading, Math
Federal test scores for 9-year-olds are the highest since early 1970s
Reader Comments
Alignment is the reason - in testing and teacher performance
A real overhaul of the basis of Education in the US is needed. First identify what children of the US need to know to become worthwhile adults (unlike the amoral folks who delivered the financial crisis and the uninformed investors [both individuals and 'industy-size' pension funds] who couldn't ask the well-targetted questions to protect their fiiancal investment in the country's economy [stock and bonds]). Then treat great teachers with the sort of 'perks' that those who are "super-rich" enjoy - htat is real choice. When the options are thrift-store chic and discount store fad of the week, it's damn hard to stay motivated.
Alignment is the reason - in testing and teacher performance
Whenever assessment and instruction are aligned, the results from the that test-takers will be aligned - therefore passing. The is common sense. Teaching "to the test" if the test asks what must be known is a reasonable approach.
If teachers really don't know what "to teach", which apparently is the "gap" in the minority-rich schools, then prepare the teachers explicitly by having them take the tests that the children must. If that doesn't work - if the teachers aren't skilled and knowledgeable enough to figure it out what's needed from that experience (without the help of "outside experts")- then get rid of them.
It is better to have one really talented teacher working with a class of 48 children than three completely hopeless or ill-informed ones working with classes of 18. A great lead teacher working with a well-prepared set of para-professionals is more useful than a pack of teachers who are content-poor, pedagogically challenged, and psychologically and sociologically under-informed. Research has shown - for years- its first about trusting relationships and then content. Poorly tuned teaches rev-engines over technique - great teachers understand what children need to mature into worthwhile adults and how content (knowledge and skills) can fulfill that.
It's not that complex a problem. It's mostly a problem of asking for more personal responsibility and motivation than the nation is willing to pay for. Great teachers work 60 hour weeks (including professional development and class preparation and administration) for the average American wag. Reality is the public pays for missionaries and then gets angry when they don't get high educational results.
