Pearson Education and Our Kids

This year our school started the language arts program "Reading Street".  This program is based on the new common core standards.  As a parent, I have not been impressed with the program.  My son gets a bunch....I mean a ton of worksheets each week based on their weekly units.  Many times the homework sheets have language on them that my son does not even understand.  I wish I would have saved all of the papers so I could specifically share them with you.  But, I didn't.  Now, that it is May, many of these worksheets come home half way completed.  I ask him if it is supposed to be turned back and he says, "no".  I have asked his teacher via email...but have never heard back.  Each night we also have a homework worksheets and he completes each one.  However, when I comment on the quality of his work he just replies,"It doesn't matter, she doesn't look at them anyway."  I think..."rrrr...busy work."  So, lots of busy homework, and lots of in-class worksheets.  I do not like either.  I think that subjects should be taught in units with meaningful applications to their lives.  Teachers know how to do this.  Programs like "Reading Street", take away the teachers creativity in being able to engage their students interest in learning language arts.  So, if the common cores purpose was to raise the standards, the scripted programs that our districts have purchased seem to lower them to worksheets and bubble tests.

This brings me to the weekly testing.  Each week they have a unit test that includes multiple choice tests for vocabulary, word analysis, and comprehension with a total of approximately 50 questions.  (This is in addition to the daily quick checks both in math and language arts).  I have included in this post two copies of the comprehension tests that are written by Pearson Education. I most always read all the worksheets (it is a big job) and one day I read my sons test and was shocked.  I found the comprehension piece titled "Goal", bothersome as it sneaks in stereotyping of physical features.   I wondered why this would have to be included in the essay and I wondered why the teachers did not catch this?  If I had a child who had red hair I would have been appalled!  I took in a copy to our principal and she agreed that it was not appropriate.  She directed me to the curriculum department.  I called there, left a message, and never heard back.  Then a month passed by and my son brought home another test titled, "Positive Video Games."  I was again shocked at the material they were given to our kids as tests.  This article is a biased opinion in favor of children throwing away toys of the past and instead playing video games.  It seems as if this essay was written by an 8 year old.  And many of the 8 - 9 year olds in 3rd grade argued with their parents after taking the test about how ridiculous the parents were for limiting their screen time.  This time I emailed our principal and told her that I would be contacting the curriculum department again and that I had never heard from them the first round.  This time, I got a return call from the curriculum department.  She thanked me for voicing my concerns about the testing material.  And she informed me that these were not written by them but by Pearson's and she would pass on my concerns.  So, that was that.  Where is the responsibility?  Really, curriculum department, all of Pearson's material for each grade should be proofed before passing it along to the entire district.

In conclusion, I am not a fan of Reading Street, or any other common core scripted program that our district purchases.  If my sons teacher has lost the ability to uphold the quality of reading material and the pace that is given in her class it is a big concern of mine.  I do not like to hear, "oh, we had to have them read it, because it was what is directed for us to teach."  I would like my sons teacher to be able to make choices about what she teaches in the class and that it is appropriate.  Now, I find myself wondering, "what about the other things they read that I never see?" and "what happens when they are given other testing materials from Pearson's or any other testing company for that matter?  What do you think?  Sometimes I think I care too much.

Why to Opt Out of the Utah CRT's

Why to Opt Out?  I'll give you just a few quick reasons.....

Standardized Testing is inappropriate in elementary schools as a means for assessment.

Governor Herbert just legislated that teachers and schools be graded by the results of these tests.

These tests are currently being developed at a huge price tag.   Research does not support that test data indicates learning.  These test are like social experiments on kids testing.

The tests the kids will be taking this year are on the old Utah standard curriculum, which they did not learn this year.  This year the new “core curriculum” was taught.  The core curriculum has been implemented in haphazard way.  Most material is from book companies that had a jump start in preparing written material (i.e. lots of worksheets).  The common core tests will not be available for another two years.

Governor Herbert just legislated that our children’s test scores will be complied into a backpack which will be available for private interests.  

If we can get 25% of kids to Opt-Out of the CRT's the overall data will be invalid.  Parents need to get informed about what is happening.  Elementary school is not what it used to be!

SAGE Testing

I do not believe in giving standardized tests to elementary students.  I think we should leave it up to the teachers to assure that the kids are learning.  Trust them, they know what is going on!  So, this $$$ new financial testing adventure to the all ready overwhelming cost of common core is SAGE.  Maybe, it is better than filling in stupid bubbles.  But testing is testing. My big concern comes in this statement, "Teachers will still give SAGE tests in the spring, but they’ll have the option to give them in the fall and winter as well so they can see students’ progress."  Schools around the U.S. have become overwhelmed with testing mania, and are trying to get out of all the tests.  Why do we jump on the bandwagon with a bad idea?  Why are our legislatures pushing laws in education to spend a lot of money when there is backlash in the states for the exact legislation they are pushing.  It is stupid!  Why are we not smart and say, "Hey, this is not working in other states, let's avoid this battle road!"  And what is the big deal about collecting data on little kids.  Learning and growing up takes times.  For a grown up, it is like jumping on the scale every morning to see if you lost any weight!  SAGE - Computer Adaptive Testing :(

Superintendent Doty Step's Down

I find it interesting that Superintendent David Doty is leaving to work at a education reform company, Education Direction.  In one way it seems honorable that he would show his true colors for the education reform movement.  Many powerful public administrators work from the inside to dismantle public ed.  So, at least he will work for the reformers and not for public ed.  I have heard though, that he will be leaving the district in a bad situation financially.  When will leaders be held responsible for their bad decisions?  I wish the the next superintendent a lot of good wishes.  I hope she/he will build the moral of the district, be for public education, and support, instead of scare the teachers and administrators who work with our kids.  Doty leaves Canyons District.

Utah's Unique Common Core Science Standards

I find it interesting that we have been told that parents have to accept and Utah has to adopt the common core standards as they are and yet when it comes to the science our Ed departments will manipulate them to match what Utahans want.  Ok I am a citizen of Utah and....Climate change is real.  It is affected by human behavior.  These things are facts not beliefs.Read the article from the Salt Lake Tribune.

Student Achievement Backpack.....Sounds so friendly.

It is hard to find a lot of information about this new venture in collecting data about our children...but I do know that Gov. Herbert signed the bill to make it happen.  Now what?  A lot of parents do not even know this is happening!
Student Achievement Backpack

Pass or Fail...oops I mean Mastered or Not Mastered.

This is from the Canyons Website. I wonder what their final decision was? I think it is ridiculous that we spend so much time worrying about how to measure our K-6 kids. I never remember this time of my life being a "game changer". I am definitely for learning the basics and having a solid foundation in the three R's. But I think all the reforms on education are anti-kid. I would like to get a copy of my K-6 report cards. I am sure they do not include the detailed rubrics that today's measuring system have.


"The Canyons School Board continued Study Session discussions about a proposed standards-based elementary report card aimed at giving parents more precise student achievement information and aligning grading systems with the new state curriculum. Board members asked clarifying questions about the proposal, and heard answers from teachers piloting the report cards and Elementary Evidence-Based Learning Director Amber Roderick-Landward. Board members tentatively agreed they would like to implement a standards-based report card. Remaining issues include whether the report card should have additional grading levels beyond mastery and not yet mastered, and whether implementation next fall should be districtwide or site-based. The Board asked to see models that presented information with graphics and that relayed student performance in up to four levels instead of two. The Board will discuss and vote on the proposal April 16.  The proposal stems from educators' requests and more than two years of study by a committee of teachers from every school, special education experts and education technology specialists. It is being piloted in 92 classrooms in six Canyons elementary schools. Crescent View Middle School also has implemented a standards-based report card."  Here is an example of the Report Card.