Standardized Testing…Know Your Role

For all high school students, around April is the time to take the mandatory SAT/ACT test. The goal is to then apply their score to measure whether they are on track to be successful in college, and their careers. It often can help or hinder a student from going to their desired college.

The idea sounds logical. The scores will reflect college readiness and career success. To a person that has never stepped foot in the teaching profession or person who does not understand what makes people successful, this sounds like a fair testing measurement. However, we are failing our students if we believe there is any validity to a test score measuring college readiness and career success.

The SAT/ACT believes the assessment will give teachers, schools, students, and parents better information about where students should be placed in college or careers.

I could not disagree more. This is another way to categorize students and destroy self-confidence for the students who are poor test-takers. What message are the students who do poorly receiving?

To the students, the scores reflect more than just a number. It sends a message that this is where their intellectual level is and these are the schools and students they belong with. You can deny that a test number does not have this effect, but I’m willing to bet you remember your ACT/SAT score to this day. I remember mine, it was mediocre and did not affect any of my aspirations and goals.

For example, when students score poorly on writing they tell themselves, “I am not good at writing.” This can create a mindset that allows the student to feel it is acceptable to struggle with writing, because they have always scored low in that subject.

Students need to be sent a strong message that a test score will never dictate their success in life. Life is an open book test and any answer can be found with curiosity and a strong work ethic.

As a teacher, I sit in meetings about teaching kids strategies on how to become better test-takers. I learn to teach them to understand what the questions are asking, “is there a direct answer or does the answer have to be inferred through the text?”

I have endless conversations with teachers about what we can do to improve our students’ test scores. I am not placing blame on any teachers or administration for this, but our paradigm of thinking needs to change.

I want to sit in meetings that show us strategies to teach students internal motivation, self-confidence, work ethic, and mutual respect. These are the true qualities that determine college readiness and career success.

I want to learn how to teach students to understand, that the good habits they create now will follow them for the rest of their lives. I want to have conversations with teachers about how we can inspire our students to live up to their full potential in and out of the classroom.

I understand that there needs to be some type of measure or standardized test to see where our students are at in their learning. And, like anything else, I am encouraging my students to challenge themselves with any mandatory test they take and take it to the best of their ability. However, the emphasis and importance of this test need to change.

Please send the message to your students, sons, and daughters that a number on a test will never measure their success in life. If we don’t, who will?