Christi Fultz

teacher resources • blog design • branding •

  • Home
  • Blog
    • Holiday Ideas
    • Decor
    • Early Learning
    • Literacy
    • Math
    • Tech Tips
    • Archive
  • About
    • Hello, Christi Fultz
    • Beauty
    • Wellness
    • Completely Christi
  • Teacher Shop
    • TeachersPayTeachers
    • Favorite Resources
  • Design Services
    • Website + Logos
    • How to Start a WordPress Blog
    • Apparel
  • Contact
  • Legal
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
You are here: Home / assessment / Let’s Talk Assessment Pressure
assessment

Let’s Talk Assessment Pressure

January 26, 2012

The state of Indiana has passed a new law to go along with our mandatory standardized tests.  Third graders who fail a specific reading portion of the test are required to be retained in third grade.  The only exceptions are students who have previously been retained twice and students with IEPs (students with identified learning disabilities).  The law only applies to third graders, so if you squeak by in third grade but fail later in the future, it doesn’t impact you.  It puts a lot of additional pressure on teachers, who are often expected to control factors that are honestly out of our hands.  It puts additional pressure on some students, who of course don’t want to be retained.  It also puts additional pressure on those parents who are involved in education.  It doesn’t, however, put pressure on the uninvolved or unconcerned (who probably need the pressure most!!).


I get that reading is important.  I get that in many ways education beyond third grade doesn’t really teach students the foundations of learning to read.  I’m not even sure third grade really does that, to be honest.  We operate on the basic assumption that our students have a solid bank of sight words and are pretty good at decoding the rest.  Students who can’t do that are lost in our classrooms as we explore more complicated aspects of reading and comprehension. Of course we give them additional support to help them be successful, but they’re still behind.  Some are really, really behind. If this is going to be the law (like it or not), third grade may be too late.  Would it be more “fair” to hold them back in first or
second grade instead?  Most of the students we’re talking about have
already been identified in first and second grades as students targeted
for Reading Recovery/additional reading instruction because they
aren’t learning at the same rate as their peers.  Unfortunately, they
haven’t caught up by third grade.  On the other hand, some students are late bloomers and the reading portion of their brains mature later. 



So how do we catch these students up?  We’re reading 90 minutes or more a day.  We’re using our classroom assistants for reading instruction and one-on-one help.  We’re using a grade level remediation aide who is a licensed teacher for pull-outs.  We’re using a computer program called SuccessMaker.  We’re working, working, working.  But will they all be ready?  No.  

Is another year in third grade the answer?

politics pressure
by Christi Fultz 

About Christi Fultz

wife • mom • teacher • writer • tech obsessed • sometime crafter • beach lover | Empowering entrepreneurs through branding & website design

View all posts by Christi Fultz

Related Posts

  • Teachers Under AttackTeachers Under Attack
  • Test-Taking Strategies
  • Best of Teachers Pay Teachers
  • Wordless Wednesday– Testing Season

I MAKE STARTING YOUR OWN BLOG EASY…

previous post: T-Shirt Pillow Tutorial for Classroom Library
next post: Teachers Under Attack

Comments

  1. Tami O'Keefe says: March 6, 2012 at 6:11 am

    That is sure extreme. In Washington teacher evals. will be now tied to test scores. I understand children need to be held accountable but lets also look at the parents and lets get a firm grip on Early Intervention, all 3 and 4 year old's should have a chance to go to a high quality preschool. My daughter who turned 4 in Jan. is a peer model in a Sp. Ed. Preschool within the local school district and is going to into Kindergarten and not struggle. It's wonderful having typically developing and special education preschoolers working together.

Christi Fultz

wife • mom • teacher • writer • tech obsessed • sometime crafter • beach lover | Empowering entrepreneurs through branding & website design

Let’s Get Social

Search

Erin Condren Love

Click here for your $10 discount!

Follow by Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow on Bloglovin
Follow on Bloglovin

Instagram

christifultz

mama • teacher • business bestie | WordPress website design + virtual assistance for creative entrepreneurs. FREE digital marketing guides. ⬇️

Christi | WordPress Expert + Brand Strategist
Yes // I’m still shocked I said yes to this adve Yes // I’m still shocked I said yes to this adventure on the lake, but looking back at all the memories we’ve made there over the last 15 years made it a much easier yes. 🌊
Small Business Owners // As a reminder, I have a h Small Business Owners // As a reminder, I have a highlight bubble and website especially for creative entrepreneurs, TPT sellers, and tutors with tips to monetize and grow online! Visit the blog for TONS of free guides for beginners AND experienced small businesses. My personal favorite topic is SEO. 😎 design.christifultz.com
DIY Dollhouse // Last year we made Charlotte this DIY Dollhouse // Last year we made Charlotte this under stairs playroom and it turned out so sweet! https://completelychristi.com/2022/03/under-stair-playhouse-makeover.html

#louisvilleky #momsoflouisville #louisvillemoms #louisvillemomcollective #kentuckyblogger #kyblogger #louisvilleblogger #igerslouisville #derbycitymama #diyhomeprojects #diyhome #homedesigninspiration #homeinspo #homemakeover #diyinspo #makehomeyours #kidroomideas #childsroom #childsroomdecor #childroomdesign #kidsroom #kidsroommakeover #kidsroominspiration #kidsroomdesign
Blue // That moment when the map turns blue and yo Blue // That moment when the map turns blue and you switch into vacation mode. Thanks for another great week, Lake Erie. We’ll be back.
Memories // It’s not lost on me how quickly the Memories // It’s not lost on me how quickly the days with my kids this little will become memories. Even in the exhausting moments, I am thankful to be their mama.
Marblehead Lighthouse // This is always a favorite Marblehead Lighthouse // This is always a favorite stop when we’re at Lake Erie.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Pinterest

Visit Christi Fultz's profile on Pinterest.

Affiliates



Disclosure: Some of the links on my site are affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase from one. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Categories

Holiday Ideas

Early Learning

Decor

Literacy

Math

Button Up

Other Projects

  • Contact
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

As an experienced third grade teacher with a Masters in Elementary Education and K-12 reading license, I know educational resources need to be both inviting and engaging to capture students' interests. I am passionate about creating user-friendly resources to help all students learn while saving valuable prep for teachers. Read More…

Follow by email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Blog Design by

Illustration by Lovely Tocu. ©Design by Christi. Plaid Apple Ltd.

Follow @ ChristiFultz

Yes // I’m still shocked I said yes to this adve Yes // I’m still shocked I said yes to this adventure on the lake, but looking back at all the memories we’ve made there over the last 15 years made it a much easier yes. 🌊
Small Business Owners // As a reminder, I have a h Small Business Owners // As a reminder, I have a highlight bubble and website especially for creative entrepreneurs, TPT sellers, and tutors with tips to monetize and grow online! Visit the blog for TONS of free guides for beginners AND experienced small businesses. My personal favorite topic is SEO. 😎 design.christifultz.com
DIY Dollhouse // Last year we made Charlotte this DIY Dollhouse // Last year we made Charlotte this under stairs playroom and it turned out so sweet! https://completelychristi.com/2022/03/under-stair-playhouse-makeover.html

#louisvilleky #momsoflouisville #louisvillemoms #louisvillemomcollective #kentuckyblogger #kyblogger #louisvilleblogger #igerslouisville #derbycitymama #diyhomeprojects #diyhome #homedesigninspiration #homeinspo #homemakeover #diyinspo #makehomeyours #kidroomideas #childsroom #childsroomdecor #childroomdesign #kidsroom #kidsroommakeover #kidsroominspiration #kidsroomdesign
Blue // That moment when the map turns blue and yo Blue // That moment when the map turns blue and you switch into vacation mode. Thanks for another great week, Lake Erie. We’ll be back.
Memories // It’s not lost on me how quickly the Memories // It’s not lost on me how quickly the days with my kids this little will become memories. Even in the exhausting moments, I am thankful to be their mama.
Marblehead Lighthouse // This is always a favorite Marblehead Lighthouse // This is always a favorite stop when we’re at Lake Erie.
Time Passes // I shared a memory yesterday from th Time Passes // I shared a memory yesterday from the beginning of Ryan’s residency and said time passes no matter how you spend it. There were a lot of challenges in this journey, but there were a lot of sweet moments too.
Let Them // My sink is full of dirty dishes and th Let Them // My sink is full of dirty dishes and there are chocolate fingerprints all over the counter, but they are happy and proud of their brownie Death Stars from Carter’s Star Wars cookbook. I’ll take it.

Copyright © 2023 · Christi Fultz

Copyright © 2023 · Website + Branding Design by Christi Fultz.