The end of the school year is approaching, and for students that means end of grade tests. For the next few weeks, students will be sharpening the minds and their pencils for the End Of Grade (EOG) testing.
For students, test time is all about getting a passing grade.
"At first I was nervous and now I feel pretty good about the test," said Ashlyn Harrelson, a Belville 5th grader.
Students feel the pressure this time of year. "There is a high level of anxiety for the teachers and the students," said Belville Principal Tracy Coston.
There's a reason everyone is on pins and needles. From third grade on, students are tested on their proficiency level and growth rate in subjects like reading and math.
The tests on scored on a 4-point scale, with four being the highest. Three and four are considered passing.
All the kids’ scores are factored into the school's adequate yearly progress report, or AYP.
Students within a school are divided into subgroups, based on categories such as race, economic status, and learning disabilities. If just one of those groups doesn't make AYP, the entire school will go under ‘needs improvement’ status.
"The issues most people would have with the testing program is that you are holding every child to the exact same standard whether that is a special needs child or an academically gifted child,” said Faye Nelson, the Brunswick County Director of Elementary Education.
Kids in Brunswick County have had plenty of practice taking tests. Every nine weeks since the beginning of the year, students have been taking assessment tests, so teachers can monitor their progress.
Critics say too much emphasis is being places on testing.
Students in Pender County will begin several weeks of testing tomorrow. New Hanover and Brunswick County schools have already begun.
The EOGs should be
The EOGs should be administered every 2 years....there is no point in having them done every year. Plus it will save the state/schools a bundle of money
EOG Testing
My daughter has made A's and B's all year long and came home yesterday and showed me her EOG results.She had a 2 in math a 2 in reading and a 1 in science. She is now having a fit because her teacher made a remark to her and the other kids that did not pass. The comment she made was that if they didn't talk so much or had studied more they would have done better. As I mentioned she is an A B student and has had no problems all year long and to have a teacher react that way has made her and her friends feel terrible. What the teacher should have said is we will work harder to make sure we have you ready for the re-test. Now my daughter feels like she has twice the amount of pressure she had before. I was told the test counts for 50% of their grade..which I think is to much considering that my daughter and her friends have had all A's and B's all year long and this one test they take at the end of the year can pass or fail them--which was also told to them...they have enough pressure without the teacher adding more with the little comments.
EOG's
My child attends SBMS, the EOG's are very inportant to her, she has always done great on the test but is still very nervous. I just wanted to comment on the homework she has had every night during the EOG's. I just think it's ridiculous they tell our children to just relax the night before, get a goodnight sleep, eat a good breakfast, now you tell me, how can they relax when they give our children homework the night before the biggest test of the year. I think it should be a school policy no homework during EOG's.
New Idea for Bev
Testing, testing, testing.....Bev, I have a novel idea for you. Let's cut out state testing. It would save millions of dollars. Let's face it, Bev....it really doesn't do anything except stress students, teachers and parents. If you get rid of testing, you can get rid of the enormous support staff that is required with testing. You can even save trees!!! Just think of a school that did not push the kids to unreasonable limits with threats and coersion, a school where the teacher was free to teach an interesting cirriculum that was enjoyable to teacher and student. Try to imagine a place where school was a place that taught childern, not merely cram and jam for a worthless test that does very little to show how much they have learned. You know Bev, you might just get all of those teacher votes back that you lost with your idiotic, unfair wage cut...EVEN I WOULD CONSIDER VOTING FOR YOU IF TESTING WERE ELIMINATED!!!!