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| The 8th grade art class works on the "Art Bomb" project for the end of the year |
WORDS FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL DIRECTOR
HIGH
STAKES TESTING VS NO STAKES TESTING and THE ERB’S
We
have all heard horror stories about the requirement that a student pass a state
administered exam in order to graduate from high school. This type of assessment is called a High
Stakes Test. It causes anxiety and many
other problems for students and families in preparing for it, taking it, and
waiting for the results. The opposite of
a High Stakes Test is a No Stakes Test. A No Stakes Test is an assessment that the person who is taking it feels
will have no effect on his/her life. An
example of a No Stakes Test is an aptitude test like the Iowa Algebra Aptitude
Test that is used to evaluate readiness to enroll in an algebra course. While students may see a test as No Stakes, they are NEVER REALLY a No Stakes test.
Assessments are given with a purpose in mind, not simply to consume
time. Therefore, the data that the test
generates will be used in some way that WILL AFFECT the test taker's life. The ERB is one such test. Increasingly over the years we hear students
talking about how this assessment has no impact on their life. NOTHING
COULD BE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH!
The
high schools to which our students will be applying for grades 9 – 12 use these
results as a prime indicator of student achievement. The standardized number gives them something
to compare Hancock students with students from other middle schools. So achieving results year after year that
accurately reflect student accomplishment is critical. For our 8th grade students this
will be one of the numbers held in high regard when the high school is making
level placements for ninth grade. At
Hancock we use the results to place students in the correct level of math. For sixth grade students this will be one of
5 factors that will help us accurately create our Pre-Algebra and Algebra
classes next year.
Long
story short, the ERB is FAR from a No Stakes Test. While no one will fail to graduate from HDS
for a low ERB score, the data the test generates will have a major impact on a
student’s academic life over the next several years. Hence, students must put themselves is a
position to succeed by coming prepared to do their best on the ERB’s.
How a student come prepared for the ERB:
·
Make
sure your child gets enough sleep each night.
· Avoid scheduling medical or dental appointments on testing days.
· Bring your child to school on time. Rise early so you aren’t rushed
· Prepare a good, hearty breakfast for your child to help with energy and brain power.
· Send TWO nutritious snacks on each day of testing as the Middle School will have two breaks each day.
· Offer positive encouragement as you send your child to school each morning. Be calm and cheerful; they take cues from you!
· Avoid scheduling medical or dental appointments on testing days.
· Bring your child to school on time. Rise early so you aren’t rushed
· Prepare a good, hearty breakfast for your child to help with energy and brain power.
· Send TWO nutritious snacks on each day of testing as the Middle School will have two breaks each day.
· Offer positive encouragement as you send your child to school each morning. Be calm and cheerful; they take cues from you!
In order not to put additional stress on students, Middle School assignments will be severely curtailed between Tuesday and Friday of next week.
We hope that everyone will be in top form next week and are accurately assessed!
6th
Grade Earth Science – Mr. Crawford
Next week we
will only meet Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to accommodate the administration
of the ERB. We will be working in class
on a research project on minerals, their mining and their uses.
