I teach 8th grade science in an inner city Junior High in Toledo, Ohio. About
half of our students are fifteen year old 8th graders that are still at the
concrete level. They have VERY low reading/comprehension levels (2nd @ 3rd
grade) and they are all low income, many are "wanna be" gang members! The
school lacks resources badly, hence I purchased my own computer lab (old PC's)
for my classroom. Hands-0n is difficult when there is nothing to hand them:>
The students writing, even the simplest of commands on the computer, helps them
to develop their organizational skills. I love the way a computer is
unforgiving about spelling errors:>
We administer the 9th grade proficiency test to our students to try to prepare
them for the required test next year. This is a new test and the Administration
is attempting to establish accurate pass rates so we give it in the 8th grade.
The scores are very low (<10% pass rate). The problem I have with this is that
these students are still at the concrete thinking level and the test is written
at the abstract level. Our students read the questions but do not comprehend
what it being asked for, add in the apathy level (daily 30% absent rate) and we
have a major problem.
I beleive that abstract thinking is built around a rich and diverse background
of concrete experiences. If a student has a limited background of concrete
experience when he/she is young it is very difficult to overcome and "catch
up". I have visited student's homes and found them void of any source of
reading and learning materials, many parents do not seem concerned about
education. (I see about 25 parents at open house out of the 130 students I
teach).
My suggestion to the School Board was to establish the level of cognition a
student is at before you administer and "abstract" level test. Do not give this
test to a student who is at the conctrete level! My suggestion was and is
ignored. My concern is that we will enter the "teach the test mode" just to
make it look good. Several of the surrounding districts that are doing well on
this test have admitted to suspending school for three months before the test
and drilling students on sample test items to obtain the high scores. At a
recent meeting about the proficiency test we were told that to be successful we
would have to do the same.
I'm very frustrated - comments would be appreciated.
Mike
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