Testing

In the class that I am observing, tests are very different than what I am used to. In kindergarten, first, and second grade, there is not a big difference between worksheets done in class, homework, and the actual tests. I like that the worksheets, homework, and tests are all virtually the same. I do not believe it is fair for a child to work diligently in class and get everything correct, but not know what to do on the test because it has a different layout.

Since the students are all doing different activities, the classroom is not quiet when a single child is taking a test. I find this very distracting. I think that it takes the students longer to complete the test because of all of the distractions in the room. I think it is especially important that tests are taken in a quiet environment when the students have learning disabilities. Students with learning disabilities struggle with school without the added stress of a loud testing area.

Also, it seems like the students do not care when they get a bad grade as much as I did as a young student. For instance, the students have spelling tests every Friday. The students work with the list of spelling words that they will be tested on all week. They write the words multiple times and write sentences using the words. However, they do not study the words at home. Therefore, when it comes time to take the test, they forget the words. Most of the students get a D or F on all of the spelling tests, but they never try harder the next week. For me, I cried if there was anything lower then a B written on the top of my tests.

I believe that it is very important for students to be tested. However, I do not believe that a student’s progress in the class should be dependent on one day. Students have bad days and bad days can really affect how well a student does on a test.

I study for tests and know all of the material before tests are administered. However, I get test anxiety and forget everything when the test is in front of me. I get very stressed out about the whole situation because I can study for hours and know everything, but since I do not know the information at the exact moment when the test is in front of me, I earn a bad grade. I know that many children suffer from the same anxiety as I do.

I honestly do not like written tests at all. I think written tests add unnecessary stress to a child’s life. Tests should show what a child knows, but not make a child nervous. Therefore, someday, I hope to come up with an efficient way to test my students without the use of paper and a pencil. I want to create a testing method that is nonthreatening to the children and shows how they have progressed.