National guidelines must be followed for all students, thus states use standardized testing to evaluate all students within the school system. Often problems arise when students move here from other countries. Each state must measure the educational level of English Language Learners (ELLs) as they enter the school system. Once a student has been tested the school is able to place the child into a classroom that is appropriate for his/her level of comprehension. The state of Virginia uses W-APT, which is a test system set up for specific grade level clusters.
Concepts and skills in literacy in one language will only transfer if they have been completely learned. Cummins calls this the “threshold hypothesis” and asserts that native language literacy can only transfer to a second language when students have reached a critical threshold in their native language” (New York State Education Department, 2000). When educators are appropriately trained to inspire LEP students to achieve to their greatest potential in their native language, these students will build confidence and skills in the second language. Teachers need to be proactive in ensuring LEP students have full access to content material and literacy experiences to help promote meaningful problem-solving and
Efficient grade books should be organized around the standards (Appendix A). While all assessment data should be recorded, such as diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments, only summative assessments should count toward final grades. Formative assessments and quizzes should only be used for immediate feedback given to students. Teachers should consider eliminating the practice of distributing zeros for uncompleted assignments. Instead, directing the student to redo the assignment is a more productive method of measuring mastery of the content.
Yell explains the current laws and regulations on disciplining students in special education. Throughout the chapter Yell breaks down the different aspects of discipline in schools in regards to special education. Yell starts out explaining the procedural due process used to create fair polices. Yell also talks about how schools are given the power to act as parent for the child while they are at school. This does not mean that parents have no rights to what happens to their child while they are at school but this allows school to guide student behaviors though discipline.
High-stakes testing begins in elementary school, where the results determine promotion from one grade to another. “High-stakes test them determines graduation from high school; admission to undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools,; and professional licenses, and employment credentials.” (Spring, 16th Edition, 2013 American Education P.63) It should be self-evident, that mass produced, mass administered English language and reading tests would not be sensitive enough to bring to light the serious difficulties with English grammar, vocabulary and reading and writing that many students in school face. It’s a problem that to self-evident to those who crack the whip of standardized
He though the purpose of education was not so much the acquisition of a predetermined set of skills, but rather the realization of the student's full potential and the ability to use those skills for the greater good. Dewey notes that, "to prepare him for the future life means to give him command of himself; it means so to train him that he will have the full and ready use of all his capacities.” Although Dewey's ideas were very widely discussed, they were implemented chiefly in small experimental schools attached to colleges of education. Since Dewey’s era, the education system has made very few strides to expand and improve the learning
The rigorous standards are continuous from school to school and are defined with essential skills students should know (MSDE,2012). The Common Core Curriculum assumes the position of the conservation view in the context of school processes. According to Astuto, Clark, McGree, Pelton Fernandez, and Read (1994), the curriculum is developed around a shared set of knowledge that represents a common cultural heritage. The concern with this new curriculum is that students with special needs are going to become frustrated and left behind. The skills and knowledge embedded into the standards constitutes a one-size fits all mentality and do not allow for enough flexibility for those students who learn
8) Do you think that all teachers should receive special training for ELL or be required to receive their certification in ELL? Yes teachers should be given special training for ELL so that they know what they are doing and can become more efficient in teaching and understanding their students. 9) Was there anything that made it difficult for you to learn the English language? None 10) What strategies did you use when learning the English language? TV Reference Brown, S. (2013).
.” so, even before you look at the expectations, you see that the standards are uniform. This implies that individual differences either don’t exist or are not important enough to be addressed. This kind of wording disregards the fact that not all kids learn the same. Furthermore, considerable research has demonstrated that students who are actively involved in designing their own learning are more successful, so it would make sense to allow more academic freedom in the classroom, and therefore less specific standards. (Kohn,
After reading the article I understand that content integration in the curriculum is only the first dimension of multicultural education. Students come to school with prejudices toward different groups and that is why all teachers, whether you teach math or social studies, should be sensitive to that matter and work towards reduce prejudice in their classrooms and school and create a more positive racial attitude among the students. It is in the hands of educators to encourage students to become more critical readers and thinkers, and help them understand the values that underline knowledge. Students need construct their own knowledge and think for themselves. Teachers need to help students understand the implicit cultural assumptions and perspectives of the discipline they’re teaching.