> 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:>
It is so hard to work with those kind of students in a regular classroom
environment. Logo is a way to reach them, if only for your one period.
I've had "wanna be" gang members get A's in my class when they get F's in
every other class because they can succeed in my class. However, it
takes a lot of work for me to help them realize that they can succeed in
my class and I don't have very many of those kind of students in any one
period. I would be hard pressed to work to work with a whole class of
low achievers. However, Logo does work wonders.
> 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.
>
> 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
I understand your frustration! Teaching to a test that is at an
inappropriate level for the students taking the test is absurd and a
total waste of time!! Your time and their time would be better spent
having them work with Logo. You mentioned that your school is ill
equipped. Doesn't your school have Chapter I funds? My school doesn't
get Chapter I funds because we don't have enough low achieving students.
The schools in my district that have many low achieving students have
computers in every classroom and several computer labs. They spend many
thousands of dollars on computers and software every year.
-John
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