tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post7949091995541742669..comments2024-03-29T06:57:49.917-04:00Comments on Lisa Nielsen: The Innovative Educator: Beware of the back-to-school testing success trapLisa Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-53577935341894595292012-08-02T07:32:48.153-04:002012-08-02T07:32:48.153-04:00While I basically agree that celebrating achieveme...While I basically agree that celebrating achievement on standardized testing is something that we really shouldn't be doing, I don't think you should chastise yourself or other teachers for doing so, nor should you chastise the local media for printing the scores.<br /><br />When my superintendent congratulates my school on making AYP (or whatever we did), I don't smile, but I do breathe a sigh of relief because I know that it will mean less pressure and less scrutiny for this year. That might not mean anything to you, but having worked in schools that have struggled with standardized test scores, it means that we have taken a step forward and can have some breathing room.<br /><br />The press is going to report those measurements because they're readily available and easy to report. In this case, it looks good for the school; in many cases, it doesn't and the only purpose that reporting test scores seems to do is stir up the "Where is my tax money going?" ranting and raving. <br /><br />What I'd suggest doing is establishing a relationship with the local paper and inviting them to see something in your classroom. If it's something that is a great photo opportunity, it's definitely going to get their attention. Teachers in my school have had the local paper cover science days, arts festivals, and a poetry recital competition, and I am sure that every one of them called the paper to tell them about it.<br /><br />Nobody is going to report on anything in a school unless it's something highly negative like a criminal act or massive budget cuts, or if it involves high school football. You have to make your own publicity.Tom Panaresehttp://redlinesandhighlights.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com