10/3/2015esl conference: kananaskis 1 it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing
TRANSCRIPT
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 1
It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got that Swing
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 2
33% of 4th graders are performing at or above
Proficient Level in Reading
(NAEP 2007 Reading Results)
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 3
Today’s Situation
Why Standardized Tests Don’t Get Good Data
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 4
First Tier of Problems
50% of students have to fail.
Tests don’t reveal whether the student knows the material or not.
They’re biased Linguistically culturally
They have arbitrary cut- scores
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 5
More Problems
They happen in a vacuum No teachable moments Stupid questions Testing companies make mistakes They’re one-shot deals
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 6
Even Worse!
Ideologically driven rather than educationally
They focus on a few easy to measure items to the detriment of other measures, accountability and important things to learn
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 7
Even Worse!
They lack predictive value They don’t measure the most
important things in life – compassion, creativity
They define children as winners and losers
Too narrow
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 8
Worse Still!
They take the decision making out of the hands of those who can make the
most difference
Even Worse Still!
Money spent diverts money from things that contribute directly to learning.
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 9
Alberta
Spends $12 million dollar per year on the Provincial Achievement testing (grades 3, 6, 9, and 12) as compared to $4 million per year on curriculum
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 10
Ontario
Spends between $50 and $59 million per year on testing (although Ontario shaved $5.2 million off their budget by eliminating one test)
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 11
Worst of All:
They’re taking the focus off what we’re trying to do. With the known consequences of testing, we aren’t preparing students for what we need in the future: critical thinkers, problem solvers, and effective communicators.
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 12
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 13
Nifty Ways to Improve Test Scores
Put all ESL in Special Ed Merge schools so that baseline changes Put all “dumb” kids in one class Lower cut-off scores Suspend kids so scores won’t factor in Encourage low-scoring kids to drop out Cheat
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 14
Goals and Objectives of Assessment
Gather evidence on what a learner can do
Determine individual strengths and needs
Make informed decisions Provide feedback to the learner Describe growth and development Communicate progress to stakeholders
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 15
The Best Assessments
Give students a chance to choose Give them latitude Push them to do their best Have high expectations Show what they CAN do
Looking at Data
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 16
GETTING FROM A TO Z
Using Data
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 17
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 18
Level 1a
No functional ability to write
Standard
How it Looks Writing is indecipherable or consists of letter like forms
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 19
Level 1a
No functional ability to write
Standard Learn functionality of print. Learn to copy. Learn set expressionsLabels, LEAPicture books
How it Looks Writing is indecipherable or consists of letter like forms
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 20
Level 1b
Able to communicate minimally with learned material.
Standard Know functions of literacy, alphabet, directionality, spacing. PersonalInformation Writes words andshort sentences.
How it Looks Writes phrases, simple sentences. Few mechanics
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 21
Level 1b
Able to communicate minimally with learned material
Standard Know functions of literacy, alphabet, directionality, spacing. PersonalInformation Writes words andshort sentences.
Memorizeset expressionsLearn ocabularyPractice writing/copyingLEA Frame SentencesEnvironmental Print
How it Looks Writes phrases, simple sentences. Few mechanics
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 22
Level 2
Sufficient control to meet survival needs
Standard Simple writing on concrete and familiar topics, basic vocab., common structures and tenses. Conventional spelling. Punctuation.Organize ideas.
How it Looks Invented spelling. Some cohesion. Some complex sentences. Many errors.
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 23
Level 2
Sufficient control to meet survival needs
Standard Simple writing on concrete and familiar topics, basic vocab., common structures and tenses. Conventional spelling. Punctuation.Organize ideas.
Read simple textsBuild fluency and understanding Increase vocabulary
How it Looks Invented spelling. Some cohesion. Some complex sentences. Many errors.
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 24
Level 3
Sufficient control to meet limited practical needs
Standard Express complex thoughts. Expanded vocabulary Communicate across the curriculum. Cohesive paragraphs. Varied sentence structure.
How it Looks Good control of grammar. Multi- paragraphs. Wide range of vocabulary. Frequent errors.
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 25
Level 3
Sufficient control to meet limited practical needs
Standard Express complex thoughts. Expanded vocabulary Communicate across the curriculum. Cohesive paragraphs. Varied sentence structure.
Familiar topicsGuided readingSentence combiningDictationGuided writing Reading beyond the classroom
How it Looks Good control of grammar. Multi- paragraphs. Wide range of vocabulary. Frequent errors.
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 26
Level 4 Sufficient control to meet most needs and academic demands
Standard Complex sentences/ complex thoughtsControl overgrammar. Write independently for academic purposes.Multiple paragraphs.Effective organization
How it Looks Approximates native speakers’ writing. Errors persist but more complex and less easy to fix or unravel.
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 27
Level 4 Sufficient control to meet most needs and academic demands
Standard Complex sentences/ complex thoughtsControl overgrammar. Write independently for academic purposes.Multiple paragraphs.Effective organization
Increase control over structuresIncrease speed in readingIncrease writing and reading vocabulary
How it Looks Approximates native speakers’ writing. Errors persist but more complex and less easy to fix or unravel.
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 28
Level 5
Ability to create with language.
Standard Write with precision.Read at normal rate of speedRead subject matter with comprehension.
How it Looks Writes with a “foreign accent.”Some errors in difficult grammatical structures.
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 29
Level 5 Ability to create with language.
Standard Write with precision.Read at normal rate of speedRead subject matter with comprehension.
Increase control over structuresIncrease speed in reading, increase vocabularyPractice taking accurate notes Extensive reading
How it Looks Writes with a “foreign accent.”Some errors in difficult grammatical structures.
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 30
Level 6
Proficient for professional and college expectations
Standard Write effectively with accuracy.Mastery over syntax. Control. Errors don’t interfere with comprehension
How it Looks Satisfies all requirements of school. Succeeds in all-English medium.
04/19/23ESL Conference: Kananaskis 31
Don’t sacrifice the creativity
and the fun