Post your comments on Provincial Achievement Tests.
Comments (3)
Parent of grade 6 child in a private Christian school
written by Marilou van Hal, March 01, 2011
written by Marilou van Hal, March 01, 2011
I am concerned about the use of the results from the Alberta governement PAT tests for grade 6 at my child's school. They are using these results for 20% of the child's grade in each of 3 semesters. Is this a common practice in public schools - and should it be allowed ?
Sincerely, Marilou van Hal
Sincerely, Marilou van Hal
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Ideas
written by Mike Fleck, February 02, 2010
written by Mike Fleck, February 02, 2010
Hi,
My staff talked about real learning first for an hour last week. Here are some suggestions that came out:
- Third party independant auditors assessing a multitude of factors eg. extra-curricullar; student populations vs. needs ratio
- Report cards that specifically outline each objective as met or progressing towards
- Streamline grades eg. all the grade fours that are weak in math go to one class and the strong to another. This would apply to all core subjects
- A demanding curriculum impinged upon teachers to teach by is too often unfair and unrealistic to the real needs and abilities of studetns. Allow leniency in the curriculum
- A teacher should have the discretion to teach according to the academic AND emotional needs of each student.
My staff talked about real learning first for an hour last week. Here are some suggestions that came out:
- Third party independant auditors assessing a multitude of factors eg. extra-curricullar; student populations vs. needs ratio
- Report cards that specifically outline each objective as met or progressing towards
- Streamline grades eg. all the grade fours that are weak in math go to one class and the strong to another. This would apply to all core subjects
- A demanding curriculum impinged upon teachers to teach by is too often unfair and unrealistic to the real needs and abilities of studetns. Allow leniency in the curriculum
- A teacher should have the discretion to teach according to the academic AND emotional needs of each student.
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Letter to MLA Barry McFarland
written by Emma Lenz, March 19, 2009
written by Emma Lenz, March 19, 2009
Here is a copy of a letter that we received from Emma Lenz:
I am taking time to send you a message to say that I support the elimination of provincial achievement tests at the grade three level and consider alternative assessments for learning. Speaking as a parent, I actually sent written consent to opt my younger daughter out from writing her PAT's because I saw how much undue stress it caused her older sister two years previously. The money spent on writing, securing and marking these tests, which was recently quoted to be $540,000 in the Legislature, could be spent in early literacy efforts to assist students who struggle. I do not want to see our system turn into the American "No Student Left Behind" fiasco - which gives a whole new meaning to "teaching to the test" - as students in Montana spend 6 of 9 months of instruction preparing for state exams, where a grade 7 boy comes home stressed out that his teacher is going to loose her job if they do not do well on their tests.
As a resident of the Little Bow Constituency, I encourage you to consider supporting Motion 503 next week,
Yours truly,
Emma Lenz
I am taking time to send you a message to say that I support the elimination of provincial achievement tests at the grade three level and consider alternative assessments for learning. Speaking as a parent, I actually sent written consent to opt my younger daughter out from writing her PAT's because I saw how much undue stress it caused her older sister two years previously. The money spent on writing, securing and marking these tests, which was recently quoted to be $540,000 in the Legislature, could be spent in early literacy efforts to assist students who struggle. I do not want to see our system turn into the American "No Student Left Behind" fiasco - which gives a whole new meaning to "teaching to the test" - as students in Montana spend 6 of 9 months of instruction preparing for state exams, where a grade 7 boy comes home stressed out that his teacher is going to loose her job if they do not do well on their tests.
As a resident of the Little Bow Constituency, I encourage you to consider supporting Motion 503 next week,
Yours truly,
Emma Lenz
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