Who Do Alternative and Standards of Learning Assessments Benefit?

As a teacher I believe that assessments are an important part of the learning process. There must be an educational goal to work towards and achieve. An assessment is a great way to evaluate what a student has learned as well as give the teacher some sort of structure.

The issues is that some teachers only teach to the test or are required to give an alternative assessment that does not reflect the knowledge of the student.  An alternative assessment is suppose to exhibit the students knowledge in a nontraditional format, traditional being multiple choice. Instead these test consume much of the teachers time and does not benefit the student. It is literally worksheet after after worksheet being forced down their throats.

This process is very frustrating for many teachers because they see the needs of their students but cannot ignore the test.  The needs of the students often fall to the waist-side. There are many days when there is no teaching going on in a classroom at all and students are reduced to busywork.

There is much pressure on teachers to complete and pass these assessments at all cost. These assessments are part of the school's report card and can reflect negatively on the school and/or the school district.

There are so many ways that we could engage our children in learning if this "at all cost" assessment process was eliminated or tweak. We must get back to teaching and giving our students life skills that will benefit well beyond the classroom.

Attitude Makes a Difference

We all have students or people in general that challenge us. It is our attitudes that can make a difference on how we respond to these challenges. As educators we must look beyond our students bad attitudes, moods, rude behaviors, and get to the root or source of the issue in order to effectively teach.

More importantly, we must leave our own issues, bad attitudes, and mood swings on the shelf.  Easier said than done? Maybe, but we must put forth every effort to show our students that they are our most important issue and give them our best. As we give our best, most students will comply and give their best.

Teaching Challenges

Are you ever really ready to go into a classroom and teach students of any age? Teaching is such a demanding and rewarding profession.  It is difficult to enter this  profession “ready” even after years of going to school yourself. For those that do not have the luxury of completing their education before starting to teach, the road is more difficult. You are expected to come into a classroom “ready” whether you have taken one class or have a Masters Degree. Is this fair or realistic? I am not sure if it is either, what I do know is that it takes hard work, long hours, and dedication to be successful.

You may find that are many demands and depending on the grade level , many assessments. There will be many obstacles to "teaching" because everything is so assessment driven. I believe that assessments are good measuring tools but there has to be a balance.

Are Teachers that are Parents Better Teachers?

Classroom Management boils down to knowing your students needs, allowing them time to learn and adjust, and being consistent across the board. Just like you are learning your students, they are learning you. They can pick up on when you do not mean what you say.
I believe that SOME of the best teachers are those that have children of their own or those that are around children all of the time. A parent knows when their child is really sick or just faking, when their child is telling the truth or lying, and can sense when there is a problem, even when nothing is said.
Because I treat my students like they are my own, I pick up on the same types of things. So I know when they really do not have to go to the bathroom but want to meet a friend, when they have given up and need some reassurance that they CAN do it, or when something has happen that I missed or was done in secret and I can pull that student to the side and find out the details. I can quickly settle these things and keep the class moving forward.
I am not saying that all teachers that are parents are great, but those that pay attention while raising their own children seem to have an advantage. What do you think?