EverbodyLuvsRaymondsEdBlog

Why do standardized test scores matter in the classroom? People would like for you to think standardized test scores do not matter. Are they right, or are they wrong? I'll let you decide. Test scores allow us to determine educational gaps. Sometimes these disparities can be directly associated with race. Any opportunity to bring attention to discriminatory educational policy should be an opportunity that we should discuss frequently. Exposing system failures keep us honest, in my opinion. A failure to provide and monitor education safeguards can be a downright failure to protect those at risk. I'm not making this argument because I believe it is accurate or because I am trying to convince anyone of anything. I will make this argument because of the opportunity to debate and educate others about what we know is necessary to end discriminatory educational practices. The American Association of Colleges of Education (AACE) recently released its 2018 Annual Survey of Postsecondary ...

Academics are essential. At the end of 13 years, I want my kids to be literate and to be able to compute. Specific levers are out in place to ensure learning occurs. The two that come to mind are informal and formal assessments. At our school, we do what we call progress monitoring. There are a host of different systems that measure progress. We’ve found a particular liking to I-Ready. However, I distinctly remember fond experiences with NWEA/Map testing. Moreover, I know the backlash from focusing on standardized testing data alone. No school leader should ever use one data set to measure student progress. Data should be comprised in many ways, as no one snapshot can capture the culmination of how students learn and how teachers deliver instruction. But in a world where two things can be true, I’ll offer this conjecture. Many of these education systems are not capable of supporting the historically marginalized. One way to hold the system accountable is by opting into standardized tes...

I recently read (with great reluctance) an article written by Robert Pondiscio titled "anti-racism" is misguided. Can I still teach Black children? The short answer is no, but for the sake of argument, I'll go through my usual triggers when people try and "shock jock" and minimize the importance of anti-racism in schools.                                                                      20 Years of Stellar Service  I'll start with the good. Mr. Pondiscio has spent the last 20 years in high-poverty schools in the Bronx in Harlem. He believes in high expectations for all students and that academically and behaviorally, we must have a high bar for Black and Brown kids (all kids, for that matter). By pointing out, we must have a high bar for Black kids behaviorally gives me racist undertone vibes. It's as if Po...