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Hey Kids!!! Catch Candice, she has your test scores

3/18/2016

They're Magically Fictitious

TNReady didn't get off to a great start this year. In fact, it was an epic failure to launch. And when it finally did get off the ground, teachers spilled the beans then spilled even more beans about TNReady problems. All of its enormous snafus, horrible implementation, and last minute changes lead to zero trust for the integrity of the testing process. But months from now, TDOE is hoping all the controversy will have blown over and the focus will be on the test scores.

Grey Bars, Pink Bubbles, Blue Stars, or Yellow Smiley Faces???

So, TDOE wants to know...

How would you like those scores? Would like them in the form of stars, bars, arrows, or smiley faces? Would you like your child to be called "Distiguished" or "Highly Prepared?" How about "Minimal Readiness" or "Below Grade-level?"

Nope, not kidding. Candice is real sorry about all the problems with TNReady, or so she says, in a recent letter to parents. But that's old news. What's really important is your feedback for the new TNReady report that accompany your child's test scores next year.

In the past, parent reports were often difficult to interpret and offered little guidance on how you could support your child, but TNReady allows us to provide parents with more specific and thorough information.

To assure we are creating parent reports that will best inform you, we ask for your feedback as we finalize the design of these reports. You can provide your thoughts on specific pieces of the proposed parent reports through this online form.

Here are your choices: Grey Bars, Pink Bubbles, Blue Stars, or Yellow Smiley Faces

But wait, before you pick the pink bubbles, you should know that one parent is reporting that when the survey first appeared yesterday, the very first question contained an error. According to her, "The options listed are a, b, c, d but the corresponding answers are a, d, c, b. Meaning the option B is actually found under choice D and option D is found under choice B."

This parent says she has lost confidence in TDOE. How can TDOE be trusted to accurately test children when their own parent survey has a typo that affects the answer? Even though TDOE fixed that survey mistake lickety-split, TNReady errors can't be so easily fixed. How many typos are in TNReady tests? How many kids will struggle because of them?

What Parents Really Want

Parents are sick and tired of their children being put through a ridiculous testing process to gather some innane data for an undisclosed purpose. And the survey asking for superficial responses to graphics is beyond insulting. If the TDOE wants to know what parents think, they should read this mom's Facebook comment:

"If we can't see the test, we can't determine if anything they say is honest. And the idea that this test's purpose is for students to "show what they know" is complete and utter garbage! The purpose is so that a bunch of bureaucrats who spent, at most, two years teaching can have a number in order to evaluate people who actually did stay in the classroom.

Newsflash TNDOE: parents do not trust you, teachers do not trust you. If you want me to believe your little "Mythbusters" nonsense, then "show what you know," release the test and all relevant data, and prove yourselves."

If the TDOE can manage to provide an authentic, transparent assessment process that restores the trust of parents and teachers, then we can talk about scoring. Because TDOE has some fence mending to be done in that area as well. Parents and teachers have already been through the magical TCAP scores and the magical formula for post equating those scores.

Parents and teachers want information they can understand instead of stupid graphics and silly labels. How about telling us the cut scores ahead of time? You know, like the statewide grading scale, where we all know 93-100 is an "A" unless it's a charter school then 90 is an "A" but that's another blog.

How about telling us our kid's raw score? We'd like to know how many questions were on the test? How many were scored? How many were for research purposes only? How many had to be thrown out? How many did our child get correct? incorrect? left blank?

Could we go back to including the old fashion percentile scores? Must we label our children as distinguished or whatever? Couldn't we just know our child scored within a certain percentile for his grade in his school? school district? state? We can figure out how we feel about being in the top 25% or bottom 10%. We can figure out what's good and what desperately needs improvement.

Seriously, we don't need your smiley faces.

We just need real information, transparent testing, and an assessment process with integrity that can be trusted by Tennessee's educators and parents.

Help Wanted: Looking for teachers!

3/17/2016

If we had a nickel for every teacher who has said they have considered quitting the teaching profession, we'd be rich! The reasons teachers want to give up are many, but the majority of the reasons boil down to bad laws, bad policies, bad reforms, and bad leadership.

We have a solution.

Teachers, go ahead and quit. Yes, quit.

And then for your NEW job... become a politician!

Before you balk, just think about this: You're smart. In fact, you are incredibly smart and talented to do what you do. Teaching children is hard work! Dealing with all the hurdles you face in your classrooms would make grown men cry if it happened to them in their workday. What would lawyers do if they had to teach 25 children?
(one child holding a tooth that just fell out, 1 who keeps sticking pencils up his nose, 2 who say they need to use the restroom even though your class just went 5 minutes ago, 3 who are on ADHD medicine, 2 who probably should be, 1 who forgot her glasses and can't see, 1 brand new student who barely speaks English, 1 needs a bandage because she picked at a scab, and it is storming outside so no outdoor recess today. Again.)

Most people couldn't handle the pressure. They would be on their knees begging for mercy and aspirin before lunchtime. But you, dear teachers, do this with grace. And you do it every day.

Just think about this, teachers...

You can keep 25 kids on task using paint, glue, and acorns to create the complete metamorphosis cycle of a butterfly... in comparison, an election campaign would be a breeze with your multitasking talent and creativity!

You've dealt with difficult administrators, difficult parents, and problem children... so working with politicians would be a piece of cake! You are the ultimate "people person!"

Teachers, you are a PRO at dealing with paperwork. Literally! Think of all the paperwork you do... lesson plans, grading homework, evaluation forms, IEPs, lunch tallies, etc. So reading proposed laws and policies, and then giving them a "Yea" or "Nea" grade/vote is right up your alley! You got this, with one hand tied behind your back!

For legislators who complain that teachers get long, luxurious summer and winter breaks... *Ahem*, how many months do legislators get off? Yes, that's right, Tennessee legislators work from Januaryish until they start getting antsy in Aprilish when legislators have to work longer days at the capitol (no whining) to meet deadlines and get stuff passed. Then they are "off" for the rest of the year, April through December. And before legislators start to argue that they "work from home" during their off months, well, so do teachers! Checkmate. Case closed.

Okay, back to your new job prospect idea... there are many offices you are qualified to run for:

School Board Member: would be an obvious choice. You could help fix some of those policies that hindered learning and robbed joy from classrooms. Those administrators who threw teachers and students under the bus to scramble up their career ladder? Yeah, you'd technically be their boss because you'd be voting to hire the Superintendent who oversees them. It is called "poetic justice."
School boards meet typically a couple times per month, plus members are expected to attend school open houses and such, and there might be a few trips to Nashville for school board events. You could definitely handle this; it is easier than dealing with car line and science fair projects in the pouring rain.
Since this is a part-time job, the pay is not so great for school board members, but you'd have the power to make things better for the children in your district.
State legislator: would be pretty awesome, too. You could be one of the 99 House of Representative members or one of the 33 State Senators. Most legislators aim low for a seat in the House, and work their way up to Senator, and then Governor. You could totally do it. Just watch your step for lobbyists at the Capitol. Lobbyists are crawling everywhere, but hey, you've dealt with ant and wasp infestations in your classroom every spring and every time a lunchbox leaks, so you can handle it.
Legislators have control over a large portion of funding for schools, so you could work to give more money to schools so they can hire exterminators. And you can just close the door on lobbyists if they get annoying. Win-win situation.
Oh, and legislators get their own secretaries and their own office! And they get a stipend for travel to Nashville on top of their salary.
Federal legislators. O my goodness, to have real educators in these positions... Momma Bears can dream, can't we? Senator Lamar Alexander just stabbed every teacher and student in the nation in the back by voting to approve John King as Commissioner of Education. One one side of his mouth, Senator Alexander speaks of eliminating the "Federal School Board," but then on the other side of his mouth he just voted to put the absolute worst person -- an unqualified, common core-loving, test-kids-to-death, charter school lying, not listening to parents at all la-la-la-la-i-cant-hear-you-fingers-in-my-ears, educating his own children in a private Montessori school where they don't even have the awful testing or common core he forces on public school students -- kinda person in charge of every public school system in the nation. It is sickening. Senator Alexander totally threw us all under the bus, then got out of the bus and urinated on the puddle where we are all smushed. Teachers, you can do better than this.
President of the USA. Now, we're talking! To have someone in office who is an experienced peace-maker, who truly cares about children and the future of the nation. Someone who sees through fibbing, past the excuses of Wall Street billionaires who needed "bailing out"... Someone who sees past the cocktail party conversations about the pet projects of billionaires to push privately-controlled no-excuses charter schools and thereby eliminate public education as we know it. Someone who knows what a crock Common Core really is, that standardized testing is killing the joy of education... Someone who will question the motives before believing testing company vultures eager for profit... Momma Bears literally cannot breathe thinking of what this would be like to have a teacher in the Oval Office.

Teachers, you won't be the first.

Here's some inspiration for you: Teachers in Knox County got fed up two years ago. Their school board was made up of non-educators who were making horrendous decisions for educators and students. Teachers said "enough" and ran for office. We are bursting with pride to report that the Knox County School Board now has 5 of 9 members who are former educators! and one who is a former social worker who knows what children in schools really need!!! The tide has turned in their favor so much so that their awful Superintendent is leaving. Real teachers are running the show in Knox County, Tennessee! See what happens when you teachers get fed up and take action? You can change the world!

And look in Nashville where former teacher, Jill Speering, serves on the MNPS School Board. She is doing wonderful things for her district. As a former literacy specialist, she has made literacy a priority. It truly is making a difference. She's working to reduce standardized testing. She votes for what is best for students and is beloved in her community.

Our BAT friend, Larry Proffitt, is spreading his wings out of his classroom this year. He is running for a seat in the TN House of Representatives representing Robertson county, District 66. He is no push-over, and will surely make a difference if he wins. He has already made a difference by going to the Capitol to speak with legislators every chance he can get using his school holidays and snow days over the past few years. THAT kind of commitment and dedication is what we need representing our state.

See??? It CAN be done. You CAN make a difference.

If your heart is broken by the state of public schools, if you just can't take it any more and you're looking for another door to open, consider these options. You encourage your students on a daily basis, but Momma Bears is encouraging YOU.

Thinking about it??? Here's a link to find out what steps you need to take. You can also consider contacting your local political party to find support.

More beans... #TrashTNReady

3/15/2016

Our blog last week about "Spilling the Beans" caused what some might call a "bean explosion." Teachers and parents have been contacting us all weekend confirming what we had written about TNReady and also telling us even more horrible stuff about TNReady. In keeping with the bean theme, we shall serve up another helping of anonymous spilled beans. Please read, share with your friends, get tootin' mad, and then do something about it!

from a teacher who gave the test:

Momma bears, I just read your post which highlighted anonymous teacher and parent comments, and I felt relieved. Please find a way to add this complaint to your great list:

We are not supposed to look at the test (LOL since we constantly circulate and are told to ensure students are taking it correctly), and this is extremely ridiculous: on the ELA part 1 essay, the students had several pages of texts to read before they saw the prompt. The wording was so vague at the beginning that several had no idea what they were doing. They asked what they were supposed to do, and I couldn't even tell them that the prompt was at the very end. In my opinion, this is intellectual bullying. A 4th or 5th or 6th grade student should not have to read so much before they have a clue what to do with it. Simply stating the prompt at the beginning would give them a needed purpose for the arduous reading, and it would allow them to write to the prompt. Many, I think, wrote about each text before they ever knew the actual "writing task", which is a big shift in terminology. If we want to see how well our students can WRITE, why not put the "task" at the beginning? Why not set them up for success while still getting an accurate picture of their ability to write about the texts? Test taking savvyness shouldn't be a measure. RIDICULOUS. INTELLECTUAL BULLYING!

from a teacher who followed what the state told them to teach:

I have 5th grade and we took the ELA tests. There were THREE passages for the kids to read for their first essay. The TN Blueprint, once again, has it wrong. It clearly states that kids in grades 3-5 will only read TWO passages. We never practiced with 3.

from a middle school teacher:

Sorry but out of fear for our jobs, we (the teachers) cannot disclose our names. We've been threatened not to speak or post anything on FB. The middle school test did NOT match what we were instructed to teach our kids. They were to write an argumentative essay & that was NOT even given on either of the Part 1 or Part 2 test. How can our students trust us when we tell them that this is what we're preparing them for then they're tested on a narrative? Really, a narrative??? We're told that we must teach rigor. Making up a story is rigorous?

from a high school teacher:

The high school Algebra II test was ridiculous. My students said the majority of the test was constructed response and they had no idea where to begin or what the questions were asking. I would love to show my classes your "For Students" page, but I'm afraid I'd really get in trouble.

from an observant teacher:

1. ELA computer tests showed the reading selections simultaneously on the same screen as the writing prompt. On the written test, the writing prompt came after the reading selections so that students, who have been trained to read questions and prompts first (as deemed best teaching practices by various research-based professional development sessions offered by local and state entities), were confused on what was being asked of them. Having proctored more than one grade-level, I was asked by nearly every student tested, "What do they want me to do?" I had to flip to the page containing the prompt, and tell then to read it first.

2. Because there were so many questions concerning the prompts, I was able to notice that one test asked kids to "write a magazine article" in response to the reading. Every single practice question on the MICA and MIST sites asked students to write an essay.

3. Rather than read literature and analyze it, our kids are being asked to analyze concepts that they may have, or may not have, been exposed to in life. They are given anywhere from one to three pieces of writing related to the concept, and they are having to draw from those pieces. Students from certain backgrounds, who have not been exposed to these concepts, would have to basically write the entirety of their essays by paraphrasing the articles. Sure, some may be able to "bs" their way through it, but most would not do well with formulating an essay that required some outside knowledge of a concept coupled with the reading selections to compose a well-written, well-thought out essay. What 7th grader is going to know or understand the "Value of Cooperative Play" unless he/she has been reading parenting magazines in his/her spare time? The reason I am even aware that this was part of a prompt is because most testers asked me the meaning of it. Even with the reading selections given for this prompt, some prior knowledge of the concept would have to have been given for a child to create well-thought out responses

from a Veteran teacher:

I am a 35 year veteran teacher. I have been a level 5 teacher for years, and will now see my level and the level of my students possibly plummet. I urge you to go on the site for state standards and look at the massive amount of standards we must cover by February. The social studies standards are pages and pages of info that must be taught by testing dates in February. I do not know many parents, legislators, or teachers that could master a test over these standards.

from a middle-school librarian:

I'm a middle school librarian. Our ELA teachers said that they were told repeatedly during summer trainings by the state that there would be no narrative essays, so they didn't practice those with their students. In two separate testing settings, students asked out loud, what's a narrative? The teachers DID NOT look at the test. They only way they knew was because the students were distraught and were panicking.

from a scared, broken-hearted teacher who was surprised to see a SURVEY on the test:

I am a teacher whose district started testing this past week. After the group of students I tested where through with Math, I administered the survey. I was very upset by the last question. It basically stated:

How did you find this test?
A. Harder than the math tests I take at my school.
B. Easier than the math tests I take at school.
C. About the same as the math tests I take at my school.
D. It is difficult for me to answer because it was harder than the math tests at my school.

This leads me to believe that the state is preparing to blame the schools for not preparing the students properly, which is inaccurate.

The look of defeat on the students faces broke my heart and almost made me cry (I had to look away several times so I wouldn't cry). I was doing my best to reassure them, but I could tell it didn't work. The fact that we have two more days of testing left and then another testing period in April is disheartening. The fact that the State said part 1 counts 20% and part 2 counts 80% of the students grade is just wrong, especially after saying it wouldn't count.
When is enough enough?

***Please do not use my name, I do love to teach and work with my students, but I fear using my name could affect me negatively.

from another observant teacher who also wondered about surveys on the tests:

I was surprised to see survey questions on these tests. I thought parents had to be notified before students could be given surveys? The questions asked students about their writing habits, their opinions about the TNReady test, and about their school. Don't parents have to give permission before students are given surveys? Where is all that information going?

Response from Momma Bears: Yes, dear teacher, you are correct. Tenn. Code Annotated 49-2-211 says this:

This law is pretty clear: parents or legal guardians shall have access to review all surveys PRIOR to being administered to the child. AND parents have the right to opt their student out of participating in a survey. AND section (c) says the district should disclose the purpose of the survey and who gets the data. Is your district breaking the law? Or is the Tennessee Department of Education breaking the law??? Hmmm... Might be worth a persuing legal action?

from a 3rd grade teacher willing to lose her job:

The TNReady test is so far from acceptable that I may just have to lose my job. My class took the TNReady test on Monday before the computers crashed. The computers were working fine, but the test was awful. My students were having meltdowns. One of my straight-A students was hitting himself in the head, pulling his hair, crying, and saying "this is too hard!" I couldn't help but look at the test. I am horrified. I am broken-hearted.

There was only 1 question on this third grade Social Studies TNReady test, and it was to write an essay. They had to tab between two different reading passages, and write an essay (with their little fingers hunting and pecking for letters on the keyboard because they don't know how to type yet, nor are their hands big enough to type properly), and they had to be sure to cite evidence from the text (that means "copy" to third graders). But the material was about the Oregon Trail, which is a fourth grade standard!!! Third grade Social Studies standards cover world geography, not the settlement of America! The Westward Expansion isn't covered until 4th grade (TN Social Studies Standard 4.48). You can look at the standards yourself and see:
Third grade standards: https://tn.gov/assets/entities/education/attachments/std_ss_gr_3.pdf
Fourth grade standards: https://tn.gov/assets/entities/education/attachments/std_ss_gr_4.pdf

My students had no idea what the Oregon Trail was. They had no clue what old-fashioned words like "lo" meant, especially the students who speak English as a second language. Even worse, the standard to read and compare a primary and secondary source is a SIXTH grade standard, not a third grade one! This was the very first question on the TNReady Part I Social Studies test and my students all felt like failures.

Even worse, the system apparently crashed, but we weren't notified about it until after our testing time was completed. So, my broken-hearted students had to take the same test AGAIN this week! It was on paper and pencil, this time, but it was the exact same passages and essay question they had on the first computer test. How fair is that to other students?

from a silenced, bullied teacher:

On my personal Facebook page, I posted a link about Representative Stewart opting his child out of the test. My principal told me I should not state my opinion on social media.

from a grateful teacher:

Thank you for speaking the truth about this awful testing. I am an elementary school teacher and your blog is talked about frequently in my school. You are saying so many things that teachers are afraid to say for fear of losing their jobs. Please keep up the good fight. I am willing to speak anonymously.

Momma Bears, here, again...

Readers, you should realize that teachers are risking their jobs telling us all this. Before they administered the test, teachers and proctors had to sign an agreement saying they wouldn't look at the test or talk about it. There's even a law about it:

Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.) 49-1-607 states: Any person found to have not followed security guidelines for administration of the TCAP test, or successor test, including making or distributing unauthorized copies of the test, altering a grade or answer sheet, providing copies of answers or test questions, or otherwise compromising the integrity of the testing process, shall be placed on immediate suspension, and such actions will be grounds for dismissal, including dismissal of tenured employees. Such actions shall be grounds for revocation of state license. [Acts 1992, ch. 535, 4.]

Are teachers "compromising the integrity of the test"? Well, Momma Bears question if the test has any "integrity" to compromise in the first place!!! This test is full of flaws, makes children cry, and has no value in helping our children or schools. Results, which are projected to be much lower than past TCAP tests, aren't even supposed to be back until the fall when students are well into the next grade level!

Honestly, these teachers should be called heroes!
These courageous teachers are whistle-blowers, speaking truth about an injustice affecting innocent children who are powerless to do anything about it.

We are grateful to a news station in Nashville for covering TNReady Opt-Outs. And we're ecstatic about this news coverage of a school in Chattanooga that had 41% of parents opt their kids out of TNReady! Parents are coming to realize that these tests are far too secretive, and far too powerful. Parents must do something about it because teachers can't.

We Momma Bears never signed any confidentiality agreement, and you can't take away our parenting licenses, so we will continue to expose this harmful, abusive testing for the monster that it is. We will keep informing and empowering people to do something about it:

Want to refuse the tests for your children?
  Click HERE for step-by-step instructions.

Want to do something about it?
Contact Governor Haslam.
Twitter: @BillHaslam
    Email: bill.haslam@tn.gov
Phone: (615) 741-2001
(And click HERE to find your legislators to contact them, too!)

Be sure to follow Momma Bears on Facebook and Twitter:

Teachers spill the beans on TNReady #TrashTNReady

3/11/2016

After we blogged last week about big problems with TNReady, we started getting info from teachers who were fed up. Below are the words from real teachers in Tennessee who were brave enough to tell us what they saw on TNReady tests. Since parents are never allowed to see the tests, we cannot confirm these claims. However, we trust teachers with our children's lives, so we trust what they tell us. To protect their jobs, we are sharing their words anonymously:

I know I am not supposed to reveal test questions (and I won't be specific), but it needs to be investigated that the TN Ready Part 1 Math did NOT match the blueprint given to teachers. In a nutshell, the test does not match what is on the pacing guides and curriculums. The blueprint is published on the TDOE website at: https://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/education/attachments/tnready_blueprint_g5_math.pdf.

It clearly states that conversions will not be tested. And, yet, surprise! There was a question requiring conversions. They tried to cover it up by sending a conversion table for the kids to use (units of measurement). However, the question involved cubic measurement. So the kids had to figure out how to solve the problem AND convert the units. There was a 5 part question so vague the kids didn't know where to write their answers.

Another example was a question where kids had to plot out a shape using a coordinate plane (grid), but the blueprint clearly states that kids will NOT be tested on grids. I honestly, with all my heart, believe this is not our test (produced specifically for TN).

It is terrifying that there is no way to blow the whistle on all of this without risking our careers. I teach at a top 5% school and my kids were crying they were so stressed.

I am a high school English teacher. Tomorrow my students will be taking TnReady Part I - subparts 1 and 2. What does this mean? My students will be reading information and then writing essays two times before lunch tomorrow. One of the essays is a field test - or so I've been told. Of course, we cannot tell our students that. I don't know if the "real" test or the field test comes first. I hope it isn't the field test.

Students that are not testing will be sitting in home room until after lunch when the testing will be finished. For the next four days students will be sitting in the same room from the time school starts until after lunch. About half the school will be testing. The other half will be doing nothing. I don't expect much teaching or learning will be happening in the afternoon - half the students will be exhausted from testing and the other half will be tired from spending the day doing nothing. Teachers will be just as exhausted as the students.

Metro Nashville School Board Member, Amy Frogge, posted this on her public Facebook page:

TNReady testing is underway. I received complaints about it all day yesterday. Here's a sampling:
1. My own daughter actually found five typos on her test today (misspellings, misplaced commas, etc.).
2. Young children were taught using inches, kilograms and grams as part of their standards, but the test used centimeters and ounces.
3. The answer sheet for TNReady was almost identical to the test booklet, and children were confused about where to write their answers.
4. Questions were completely confusing, and even adults proctoring the tests were uncertain of what some instructions meant.
5. "There are a lot of unhappy and confused teachers in [our district]."
6. None of the most advanced middle school math students at one school were able to complete the math test, and none of the students in that class understood the instructions on the test.
7. "This is a waste of our taxpayer dollars."
8. Teachers were repeatedly told that students would read two stories and write one prompt, but the test actually contained three passages with one prompt.
9. "What a waste of instructional time."
10. A child who could not speak or write any English was forced to sit for the test.
11. Math questions were written in a strange format that was very hard to understand and answer. The format required hand-written formulas and sentence explanations,.
12. “"I am feeling so angry and frustrated about this whole testing mess. My sweet eight year old is crying in her bed because she is so upset and worried about taking this stupid test. She is afraid she will not remember things and not finish the test, that she will get a bad grade (even though we've told her this does not count as a grade) and that her poor testing will make her teacher -who she loves-look like she has not done a good job teaching this year. That is way too much pressure for a third grader to deal with! Now she can't settle down and get the rest she needs and is dreading the day tomorrow. This is just not right."
13. "The essay questions did not make sense to children, so they did not understand what to write.”
14. "The test is so bad for kids. When I try to tell my friends about this stuff, they think I'm making it up." (from a teacher)
15. "One of the biggest problems we are facing at my school is literally just not knowing what we are supposed to be doing. There have been so many changes from the state, it's been hard to keep it all clear. When the tests were on computers, we were told most accommodations weren't needed. This has left our EL and particularly our EE teachers scrambling because it all has to be written into the IEPs."

From a 5th grade teacher:

I have 5th grade and we took the ELA tests. There were THREE passages for the kids to read for their first essay. The TN Blueprint, once again, has it wrong. It clearly states that kids in grades 3-5 will only read TWO passages. The students never practiced with 3.

from a Frustrated School Counselor:

I love your blogs about the mess that is TNReady. However, I would love to add another group of people in to your posts who are being affected in a HUGE negative way with all of this testing mess. School Counselors.

I am a school counselor at a very large school and I have not been able to do my job at all since the beginning of January. I have not been able to teach my classes, which I love and my students love. I have only been able to counsel and work with the most extreme kids in crisis. I have to turn away kids and parents because, "I'm sorry I have to get this testing stuff ready for next week" only for next week to come and we don't test.

I have made countless testing schedules and sent them on to teachers only to have to throw them away and start from scratch multiple times. I bet I have thrown away at least 7 reams of paper from testing that never happened (schedules, TAMs, tickets, etc). Who pays for the paper and the ink? Certainly not the state or MIST.

I have been in this job for years and every single year, prior to this mess, Test Administration Manuals and Proctor Scripts have always been printed by the testing company and shipped with the tests. However, that is not the case this year. None of those materials have been printed. It is up to each individual school to print their own. I calculated how much paper it will take us to print the TAMs and proctor scripts and it will be nearly 20 reams of paper for our large school and all of our students testing for Part I and Part II. Where is that paper and ink coming from?! I don't know about other schools, but in my school paper is treated as if it is gold. If we run out of our allotted amount of paper we either buy our own or don't print. I don't have a classroom of my own so I don't have parents to supply things for my needs like some teachers do.

Additionally, it is generally the school counselors who have to stay late counting and sorting and bubbling - not the teachers or administrators. All School Counselors are required to have a master's degree. Instead of doing our jobs and working with students who need our services and providing good, proactive counseling services to our schools, we spend our time creating testing schedules, test administrator/proctor assignments, printing and cutting testing tickets, and bubbling thousands of bubbles.

I work in a county that still has not gotten their tests shipped. We have moved our testing schedule way too many times. Teachers have had to adjust their lesson plans every time a testing schedule is change. Enough is enough. Everyone feels like this test should never have happened. The state needs to clean up their mess, cancel the testing for this year and come up with a new plan for the future. We are doing nothing but torturing our students and school faculty. And for what?

A post from a teacher's wife:

My husband is a high school teacher. Teens told him the geometry test had "order these from least to greatest" then the answer sheet only has 4 bubbles ...they said "you can't even answer that one!" Teens were crying in the cafeteria.

From an 8th grade teacher:

The 8th grade ELA had some of the test books come in and the pages were in the wrong order. For example 1-4, 8-12, 5-7 along those lines. Books had to be taken apart and put together correctly. We spent 1 and 1/2 hours waiting to determine what we should do about the test. Then, we had to collect all books, pull them apart, put them in the correct order, and staple them.

Want to refuse the tests for your children?
Click HERE for step-by-step instructions.

Want to do something about it?
Contact Governor Haslam.
Twitter: @BillHaslam
Email: bill.haslam@tn.gov
Phone: (615) 741-2001
(And click HERE to find your legislators to contact them, too!)

Be sure to follow Momma Bears on Facebook and Twitter:

Ready to revolt: #TrashTNReady

3/9/2016

What happens when there are more test questions than there are blanks to fill in on the answer sheet? Nobody told teachers that the first test question on TNReady was a SAMPLE question for students to solve but not write in an answer to. As you can probably guess, students answered the sample question on the test booklet, and then proceeded to finish the rest of the test, realizing at the end that there was not a spot left to answer the last test question. Meaning, the students answered all those questions on the wrong lines.

Teachers didn't know. They aren't allowed to look at the test.

The vague teacher instructions to this never-before given test didn't clearly say for teachers to tell students not to write an answer in the first sample question. It isn't the fault of the teachers or the students.

After the sample question error was caught, the TDOE sent out an email telling test administrators not to have students put an answer for the sample test question. But who knows what happens to the tests that the students already took... Will they have to take it again? Will someone mark their answer sheets fresh? Will those answers all be counted wrong and make their teachers look like they didn't teach their students anything this year? Who knows. That's what you get when you build a plane while it is in the air.

Teachers aren't allowed to look at the test, but some are. They tell us what they are seeing on the TNReady test is infuriating!

The Part I of TNReady was supposed to only cover concepts that had been taught on the TN Curriculum Map/TNReadyBlueprints/Pacing Guide before Part I was administered. Part II of TNReady, which is given in April-May, is supposed to cover the remaining concepts and standards, according to the TDOE's plan. But teachers have confided to us that there are questions on Part I covering concepts that students have not been taught yet. These concepts are clearly questions that would be appropriate for Part II.

Thus, students are baffled and frustrated to be tested on concepts they haven't learned yet. Teachers are worried these will make scores lower and will affect their own evaluation scores and possibly risk their jobs. Teachers, especially the ones who faithfully followed the TDOE's plan, are feeling tricked and sick.

But that's not the only problems we've heard of...

Read aloud accommodations for students with disabilities and IEPs: According to the testing manual, the teachers are only allowed to read the digits to students. So, the number "34" would be pronounced, "three four" instead of "thirty-four". How confusing would this word problem sound to your child with an accommodation?
There were four eight bananas. The monkeys ate three two of them. How many are left?
Calculators: They were supposed to be embedded in the online TNReady test, but now that the test had to be switched to paper tests, districts are scrambling to purchase thousands of dollars worth of TNReady approved calculators. Not just any calculator will do. So, districts are spending yet more scarce money on technology specifically for this dumb test. Dickson County School District spent over $12,000 on calculators. That's $12,000 they didn't have budgeted, that will have to come from somewhere.
Classroom Walls: The TNReady testing manual says things can stay on the walls of the classrooms where tests are given. However, some districts are making teachers remove or cover all classroom decorations and posters, while others are not. So, some students may have helpful info on the walls during the test, and others may have rooms that look as bare as prison cells.
Inappropriate test questions: Teachers are quietly telling us that there are questions on the test that shouldn't be. The questions are on subject material and standards that are not included until future grade levels for students. Children are frustrated, and some are even in tears (especially the "Advanced" students who get all A's on report cards) because they don't know answers to things they haven't been taught yet. Clearly, this test is not aligned with the grade-level standards (which we all know are really the Common Core standards rebranded to be called TNCore).
Disparity in testing administration: Some students in some schools and districts are allowed to read or do alternate activities if they refuse to take the test or when they are finished testing. Other schools are saying absolutely positively NO, even though the TDOE testing manual clearly states on p.14 that students may do so. Are schools/districts in violation for not following the policy?
Errors on the test: Teachers are afraid to say it aloud and risk their jobs, but we've heard teachers say they saw grammar mistakes on the ELA tests. There are confusing questions and vague answer choices. Who knows if this will ever be exposed because nobody is allowed to see the tests.
Tests still haven't arrived to some districts: Some districts are still waiting to get the blasted TNReady paper tests. And, once they receive them, they'll have boxes and boxes of mixed up grade level tests to sort through. Then, teachers and administrators will have to find time to attach student barcodes to the bubble sheets and bubble in demographic information before students ever take the test. Guess who is stuck staying after-school to do this? Yes, our over-worked, stressed-out teachers and principals. Guess which students won't get Art, Music, PE, Library this week because those teachers are pulled to sort and prepare paper test booklets? Yes, our children.

This is a mess
Governor Haslam needs to own this disaster. He appointed the people who got our children into this mess. Haslam needs to take the 8th grade TNReady test, and then he should make his scores public for all to see this test is worthless and a complete waste of taxpayer money. Heck, all legislators need to take the test and see what a mess it is and what an utter waste of time it is for children!

Representative Stewart and his wife held a meeting this week for parents about opting out. (Remember the blog we wrote about them opting their child out?) If legislators and school board members are willing to opt their own children out of the mess, Governor Haslam needs to listen closely and take heed.

The opt-out movement is growing. Many parents have already opted their kids out of this testing flight to nowhere. We literally can't keep up with all the people contacting us wanting to know how. If you want to know how to get your kids off this plane before it falls apart, there is information on our website (look under the "Choose To Refuse" tab). You won't be the first to refuse, and you won't be the last.

There are predictions that this mess is only the beginning of a massive state-wide opt-out movement like other states have experienced. With Round 2 of TNReady in April-May, it may very well happen this spring. Yes, that's right, your child has another week of TNReady testing to endure next month.

If your child tells you about their testing problems, or if you are a teacher/proctor and are willing to speak anonymously, please let us know at our website. You can also put it on social media and use the hashtag #TrashTNReady and be sure to tag legislators with #tnleg

With special thanks to a Papa Bear for this terrific graphic!

The testing is a mess, Governor Haslam needs to hear from you, parents and teachers! Here's how to contact him:
Twitter: @BillHaslam
Email: bill.haslam@tn.gov
Phone: (615) 741-2001
(And click HERE to find your legislators to contact them, too!)

Be sure to follow Momma Bears on Facebook and Twitter:

UPDATE 3/11/16: After this blog posted, teachers contacted us confirming what we wrote and also sharing other major problems they experienced in giving the test to their students. Click HERE to hear what they had to say.

ALARMING: A mom and her friend do the math on state testing

3/7/2016

A couple of smart TN moms did the math to calculate how much time standardized testing is really taking from their children's time at school. The reality is eye-opening. One of the moms was outraged enough to write TN Commissioner of Education Candice McQueen this powerful letter:

Dear Commissioner McQueen,

Amanda Miller and I put together an estimate of standardized testing time for our elementary-age kids this year. We both have 4th graders in public schools in Hamilton County.

As you know, the federal government recommends that no more than 2% of school time be spent on testing. If there are 180 days of school, times 6 hours of instructional time per day (excludes lunch, recess, related arts, PE) this equals 1,080 hours of instructional time in a school year. 2% of those hours = 21.6 hours per year to spend on testing and test prep.

As of Monday, here is where we are at our school:

Actual TN Ready Test Time - 18.9 hours (for grades 3 through 5, the TN Ready test itself is 11.9 hours of testing – that’s just the actual test. In reality, we must factor in 30 minutes on either end of each test for transition, to set up, pass out, get ready and shut down testing. Add an hour per test for activities that must occur before and after a test. This adds 7 hours + the original 11.9 = 18.9, and assumes no problems during testing).
Break the Mist required testing - 6 hours
Universal Screening Testing - 6 hours
30 minutes per week of test prep time since school started, 180 schools days X 6 hours (excludes recess etc.). We think this is an extremely conservative estimate.

The total: 41.9 hours, nearly double the recommended amount... so far.

I am a licensed attorney. I took two standardized tests to become an attorney (LSAT and TN Bar Exam) and those tests totaled about 20 hours.
The larger point: my fourth grader will complete more than DOUBLE the amount of standardized testing hours to finish fourth grade than I did to become a lawyer.

I hope we can have a conversation about how to change this. I would like your response before I speak with our elected and appointed officials about it. Thank you for your time.

Thank you,
Heather DeGaetano

These smart moms were also upset about a local reporter at the Times Free Press who inaccurately reported that testing time has not increased over the last several years. So, Heather DeGaetano didn't stop with just a letter to Commissioner McQueen. She wrote the Times Free Press to set the facts straight, going into further detail about their calculations, the tests, and how the TDOE manipulated "average" test times by not counting high school EOC testing days. This is what the moms told Momma Bears:

We also put this response together to send to a local reporter with the Times Free Press who has been reporting that testing time has NOT gone up over the last several years.

Again, I don't think people understand that the parent guide to TN Ready is misleading (if not actually false).

I wanted to respond to your most recent email sent in regards to the new TN Ready Test. I am passionate about the subject because I believe too much instructional time is being taken away from children.

I contacted my daughter’s Principal and she kindly agreed to meet with me to answer questions about the upcoming TN Ready Test. Other parents in Hamilton County aren’t getting the same response from their school administrators. Most administrative staff and many teachers are fearful of losing their jobs and fearful of informing parents of anything different than what is stated in the TN Ready Parent Guide. The TN Ready Parent guide is full of information about the test; however, the information and numbers in reality are very deceiving.

Let me lay out some numbers and information that my daughter’s Principal shared with me. The Federal Government suggests that total testing time and total test prep time not exceed 2% of a school’s instructional time. If there are 180 days of school times 6 hours of instructional time per day (excludes lunch, recess, related arts, PE) this equals 1,080 hours of instructional time in a school year. 2% of those hours = 21.6 hours a year to spend on testing and test prep.

For grades 3 through 5, the TN Ready test itself is 11.9 hours of testing – that’s just the actual test. In reality schools must factor in 30 minutes on either end of each test for transition, to set up, pass out, get ready and shut down testing. Add an hour per test for activities that must occur before and after a test. This adds 7 hours. This means that total hours spent on testing and test related activities take up 18.9 hours of the school year.

The state also required schools to perform 3 mandated “Break the Mist” days. Students were supposed to test the computer system to see if the platform would perform. All those days proved that the system was not ready, however the state kept moving forward. These test the system days took away roughly 6 hours of classroom time. This makes 24.9 hours of test related time away from educational instruction. This number is conservative. If you add in test prep time, the number would be even higher.

The state requests that schools administer a Universal Screener test 3 times a year in Math and Language Arts. The math portion is roughly 30 minutes per test. Language Arts is 1 hour per test. Total time, before TN Ready, is 4.5 hours of just testing. Add the transition time for each test, which makes a total of 6 hours a year of testing before TN Ready. With all the added test prep, transition times and universal screening tests, roughly 30.9 hours of testing will occur this school year.

21.6 hours would be 2% of the school year. Tennessee is far beyond the federal government suggestion. The TN Ready Parent Handbook is very misleading in its attempt to tell parents that only 1% of the school year is spent on the TN Ready test. In reality, in a classroom setting with transitions and set up, the TN Ready test for 3rd through 5th grades would take 18.9 hours away from classroom instructional time. This is over 1%. They are wrong.

Here are a few other notes to consider when analyzing the TN Ready testing numbers. The state says that “overall testing time” hasn’t changed since 2014, but anyone with a child in school can tell you that testing time has increased. The state has reduced the number of hours allowed for end of course exams in high school from all day to an allotted amount of time. At the same time, they have increased the time the younger students are testing, but this is not really reflected in their numbers. These two scenarios wash to some extent causing the numbers to be skewed. On page 13 of the TN Ready Handbook the state says, (in reference to their 1% calculation) “This calculation is based on an average of hours scheduled for testing among the three grade groups: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, and High School.” Please see my attached graph that shows the increase in testing from 2013/14 school year to 2015/16 school year.

Page 12 of TN Ready Handbook also states that the TN Ready tests will be given approximately 12 weeks apart. The paper and pencil test for my daughter’s school begins the week of March 7th, after many delays. The 2nd half of the TN Ready test will be given the week of April 25th. This leaves only 6 weeks between tests. One of those weeks is Hamilton Counties’ Spring Break, leaving 5 instructional weeks between testing. Is there really any reason to measure learning gains over 5 weeks?

If you would like to hear the real story from educators and parents, the boots on the ground, trying to comply with the states every whim, I know that many of our parents and our principal would be happy to speak with you. This is a numbers story that has not yet been told. This is a new perspective on the massive increase in testing that is creating more work for educators and less valuable instruction time for our students who are already behind.

I’d love to see you dig into the reality of how much time testing takes.

Momma Bears salute this mom and her friend for their research and advocacy!

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ALARMING: A mom and her friend do the math on state testing

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