A Note on Testing

Several prominent news stories in recent years reflect the widespread concern over standardized tests.  Many parents/guardians, students, teachers, and schools feel that standardized exams misrepresent students' abilities.  I understand these concerns and have taken time to study them.

These tests are a snapshot of your student's abilities at a specific time during the school year.  They don't give the whole picture.  Still, they have significance in determining the overall performance of our school.  In light of this, I integrate test preparation within the curriculum.  Students will have opportunities to practice for the exams and demonstrate their knowledge in different ways.  We will also take a short time on a regular basis to address test preparation.  While the tests do determine the knowledge students are supposed to acquire in school, different students will acquire this knowledge in different ways.  Classroom instruction reflects these differences.