tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post6663419891445213024..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Assessing Teachers; What are We Really Doing?Melissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-2382297593598709692012-02-21T23:18:07.226-08:002012-02-21T23:18:07.226-08:00Hey. I'm used to being the fall guy. That...Hey. I'm used to being the fall guy. That's okay, but otherwise you are road-kill.<br /><br />I support Eric Muhs. We agree on many things, including listening to teachers before millionaires.<br /><br />JKnapp may have a SpEd running mate, but know that SpEd families (of which I am one), see NO advantage to this arrangement. Political alliances this late in the game do nothing to dissuade me.StopTFAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08605108615707039386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-34419815494845047812012-02-21T12:55:09.927-08:002012-02-21T12:55:09.927-08:00Repost from 2/15 – fits this discussion better.
J...Repost from 2/15 – fits this discussion better.<br /><br />Just how scientific are tests anyway?<br /><br />Concerning the teacher evaluation contract clause referencing the use of test scores, McClure teachers have a free "get out of jail" card. <br /><br />Chaos rules the administration of the MAP testing process. Students are pulled nearly at random from class to be tested. Students wander in and out of the testing room almost at will.<br /><br />Students are allowed to take part <br />of the test and then take more of the test even weeks later. Students talk to their friends about the test and share info and answers, etc. <br /><br />The test is given during different times of day (squirmy students before lunch and sleepy after) and different times of the year (before or after certain topics are covered in class). <br /><br />Distractions are the norm with <br />talking among the students and noise from other parts of the school. <br /><br />The lack of scientific rigor or even minimal testing security is <br />breath-taking. Gathering honest or valid data under these conditions is impossible. <br /><br />So kudos to Sarah Pritchett for letting all McClure teachers off the hook, rendering the onerous testing/evaluation contract clause completely invalid. <br /><br />And now our wonderful teachers can now let their shoulders drop six inches and get back to teaching academics, not "testing".<br /><br />McClure WatcherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-16141325236475126162012-02-20T22:57:16.277-08:002012-02-20T22:57:16.277-08:00From Vancouver WA in the Columbian:
Unintended Co...From Vancouver WA in the Columbian:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.columbian.com/weblogs/bob-dean-says/2012/feb/20/unintended-consequences/" rel="nofollow">Unintended Consequences</a><br /><br />by Bob Dean .. Math Department Chairperson Evergreen School District.<br /><br />What are we really doing? <br />Bob knows ... and legislators do not.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-12912953748794104312012-02-20T20:43:46.681-08:002012-02-20T20:43:46.681-08:00Ken Berry,
I hope you are organizing the teachers...Ken Berry,<br /><br />I hope you are organizing the teachers in your school. Eric Muhs needs help. Don't hand Knapp this election.Don't sit quietlynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-57910459221120422242012-02-20T20:09:22.683-08:002012-02-20T20:09:22.683-08:00re: page 104 of the CBA that OhWell posts:
What a...re: page 104 of the CBA that OhWell posts:<br /><br />What a convoluted mess!!!<br /><br />Can there be any better reason than this to rid SEA of Glen Bafia, J. Knapp, et al before next year's bargaining of the new contract?<br /><br />The best companies/organizations don't evaluate results, they collaborate on a daily basis...<br /><br />ken berry SpEd IA VA @AAAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-5929085075503239652012-02-20T18:54:18.963-08:002012-02-20T18:54:18.963-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-49895142169795206462012-02-20T18:53:18.484-08:002012-02-20T18:53:18.484-08:00Duncan is the worst mistake Obama has made.Duncan is the worst mistake Obama has made.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74109262678274857122012-02-20T17:14:06.473-08:002012-02-20T17:14:06.473-08:00And Duncan kept repeating the mantra of "stan...And Duncan kept repeating the mantra of "standards, standards, standards" as if they were the be all and end all of it all. When Stewart commented that teaching is an art and not a science, Duncan's response was "standards." I had the feeling he really didn't know what he's talking about. Back to something I posted earlier, what good are standards alone? Easy to set standards; much harder to find ways to achieve them. And he didn't talk about that at all.<br /><br />Of course, he's off the hook for, as he said several times, these standards were written by our own state legislators and teachers. I guess he's just the cheerleader.<br /><br />n...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-29654536827694352952012-02-20T17:02:37.850-08:002012-02-20T17:02:37.850-08:00I'm sorry. Maybe I missed it. But could some...I'm sorry. Maybe I missed it. But could someone show me a comparable system anywhere in the private sector where employees are measured by such draconian, tortured measurement systems? <br /><br />All the rhetoric about how everyone else is measured by performance in their jobs didn't include any examples reaching this degree of scrutiny, unfairness, and ridiculousness. <br /><br />I'm dying for anyone, anywhere, to show me who else is rated by a similar performance metric, anywhere. <br /><br />This is total bullshit, a waste of money, and the perfect dream of a bunch of deadbeat data zombies with their heads squarely up their asses. <br /><br />If it isn't already readily apparent what a ridiculous burden this testing is on teachers, and how severely it interferes with student learning by stealing time and resources away from learning opportunities, then some people are simply brain dead. <br /><br />Would we ever see this horse crap at Lakeside, Bill? Not on your life. <br /><br />WSDWGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-70804885346107982032012-02-20T16:51:47.009-08:002012-02-20T16:51:47.009-08:00I agree with this take-away from John Stewert'...I agree with <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/jon-stewart-tries-to-talk-to-arne-duncan/2012/02/16/gIQATPNVJR_blog.html" rel="nofollow">this take-away from John Stewert's interview of Arne Duncan.</a> Meanwhile, over at LEV, Korsmo referred to the same interview as <i>"symbolism we can believe in. Arne Duncan on the Daily Show."</i> <br /><br />I have to wonder if Korsmo watched the same talking point vomiting Duncan I did. If she did, our differences are even greater than I thought. WSDWGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-68644104221317272312012-02-20T16:38:43.970-08:002012-02-20T16:38:43.970-08:00See if you can read the plight of this L.A. Teach...See if you can read the plight of this <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/i-am-a-bad-teacher/2011/04/20/AFEVNOLE_blog.html" rel="nofollow"> L.A. Teacher's painful data-driven testing dilemma </a> and see if you don't weep. WSDWGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25418287583076876692012-02-20T15:16:15.202-08:002012-02-20T15:16:15.202-08:00An 80% attendance rate would be considered a huge ...An 80% attendance rate would be considered a huge failure by a school. Of course, that's average of all students.<br /><br />I would think that we would want to set the minimum attendance rate for individual students to be about one standard deviation below that average (whatever that may be). This way, presuming a normal distribution (which is a HORRIBLE presumption, particularly in this case) about 83% of the students will be counted.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55663204817206530162012-02-20T14:00:44.907-08:002012-02-20T14:00:44.907-08:00Enrolled or present 80% of the time? That's u...Enrolled or present 80% of the time? That's up to thirty-six days of absence which equates to a little over seven weeks of school. That's a lot of teaching to miss. Catching up a week's worth of teaching occasionally is already difficult. I would have been more comfortable with 90%. Or am I overstating the concern?<br /><br />n...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-34170342620820470682012-02-20T13:45:44.204-08:002012-02-20T13:45:44.204-08:00From page 104 of the CBA:
Anyone notice that this...From page 104 of the CBA:<br /><br />Anyone notice that this email to teachers was sent out a few hours before Feb. vacation? So we'd have time to read the contract and play Perry Mason the Statistician or Perry Mason the Lawyer ?? So we'd forget about it for a week? Decoding the following gibberish will consume how many hours per teacher, times how many thousands of teachers ... and will accomplish ... you've entered the twilight zone.<br /><br />"When common district-wide assessments are available, the results of those assessments will be used to determine a student growth rating. These results will be calculated as set forth below. <br />1. Teachers of tested subjects and grade levels are those for whom two or more common state or <br />district assessments are available. <br />2. Teachers of tested subjects and grade levels will receive a rating on their student academic growth <br />of either low, typical, or high based on the assessments available to that teacher. Students will be <br />compared to their academic peers – e.g. students in the same grade who performed at a similar level <br />in the subject in previous years. <br />3. Student growth ratings will be based on a two-year rolling average. <br />4. Students must be enrolled 80% of the time and must be in attendance 80% of that time to have their <br />assessments counted in the teacher’s growth rating. <br />5. SPS will calculate each teacher’s rating by using a valid, reliable and transparent methodology as agreed upon by SEA and SPS. <br />6. To ensure that teachers of challenging student populations are evaluated fairly, aggregate student <br />growth results will factor in the student composition of the teacher’s classroom(s), including the proportion of English learners, students who qualify for free/reduced lunches, and students with disabilities<br />7. For teachers of subjects that are assessed by the state, the final rating will be contingent on the receipt of state assessment data; a written report will be issued to each teacher within 30 days of the district’s receipt of the final assessment report from the state"<br /><br />OhWellAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-43754144413539661252012-02-20T13:31:04.732-08:002012-02-20T13:31:04.732-08:00There is an action alert out to contact your repre...There is an action alert out to contact your representatives regarding the teacher evaluation bill that got shoved through the state senate with only hours to review last week. The details and who to contact can be found at <a href="http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/legislative-action-alert-on-teacher-evaluation-bill-5895/" rel="nofollow">Legislative Action Alert on Teacher Evaluation Bill 5895</a>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-50951570618146582532012-02-20T13:21:19.727-08:002012-02-20T13:21:19.727-08:00Reading and Math...as was pointed out in this post...Reading and Math...as was pointed out in this post, does a science teacher teach reading and math? (Yes.)<br /><br />As I posted elsewhere, if a student has both an LA teacher and a Reading teacher, word has it that the district will have those two teachers SHARE the credit (or "blame") for the student's growth (or lack thereof.)<br /><br />How crazy is that?!<br /><br />I'll post this scenario again, to illustrate the uncollaborative nature of this whole "test score" silliness. (And keep in mind, as Peony commented, that test scores are, ahem, mutable.)<br /><br />Student has rising test score over a year; student had a low score last spring. Parents hired a tutor over summer, student loved tutor and responded. Parents separated in October, one parent leaving with household library (remaining parent doesn't read with student.) Student starts afterschool tutoring with volunteer in November. Student breaks up with romantic interest in December. During second semester, using MAP scores as guide, student is placed in remedial reading class in addition to regular LA. (Student is also taking AP Euro, and being challenged with complex texts.<br />Student also is receiving lunch-time assistance from science teacher to decode technical texts.<br /><br />End of the year, student's score goes up/down - district assigns credit/blame to Reading AND LA teachers.....<br /><br />It's absurd.seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31173323455879136572012-02-20T12:43:22.064-08:002012-02-20T12:43:22.064-08:00None of this fills me with confidence with the &qu...None of this fills me with confidence with the "revisions" to MAP scores and new EOC exams that have yet to be truly vetted. Everything about this suggests that teachers and students work in a vacuum. <br /><br />Not to mention that the CBA says in one place "student growth" and in another "test scores." Which is it? There is also lots of murky language on "accounting for special populations when looking at scores", but when it comes crunch time on evaluations I bet it will all boil down to test scores and those that work with students who are working below grade level will be damned no matter what they do or how much their students improve. Or worse your test score will be based on someone else on your "grade level team" like the teacher evaluation bill the Senate passed. <br /><br />I would welcome an evaluation system that helped me be a better teacher with input from peers, students, and admin. What we have now is something that has categories like this one under classroom management that reads: "teacher shows general warmth and caring for students" (proficient) or "teacher shows genuine warmth and caring for students." (innovative) I'd love to know how the "data" on the difference between these two is collected.peonypowerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17509224675997284520noreply@blogger.com