In some schools, children who have read no more than a handful of books in their lives spend their reading classes–and part of their social studies and science classes–in this manner, sometimes taking an entire hour on a single page.
The writing strategies aren’t much better. For instance: "Since a student is more likely to make mistakes when writing compound and complex sentences, avoid them. Meet TAAS writing standards by using at least one adjective per sentence and one metaphor per paragraph."
Let me rephrase this for readers who are recent graduates of Texas public schools: "Long sentences are hard. They make you make very bad mistakes. Make your sentences as easy as cherry pie. Then you will always be correct. Use exciting describing words. Use nice phrases with the words ‘as…as.’ Then you will always write good TAAS essays."
And the math strategies?
• Draw a picture that represents the problem. If 25 people are traveling in five cars, draw five cars, and mark in them, one at a time, until you reach 25. The number of marks in each car will be the number of passengers.
• Learn the "TAAS code." Total usually means add but occasionally means multiply. More, less, and difference usually mean subtract. If the question includes the word equally, the operation will probably be division.
• If there are two numbers in the problem, and one is very large and the other is very small, the operation will probably be division.
• Work backward from the answer choices. Plug them into the problem if appropriate. Decide which answers are unreasonable and eliminate them.
• Always use the picture provided.
• Make a chart.
• Do not rely on your knowledge of number facts. If you are unsure, draw and count sticks. Remember that the TAAS has no time limit.
Math students may likewise spend an entire hour solving a few simple arithmetic problems, each in various ways: with real math, then with pictures, then with sticks, then with a chart. Such students are poorly prepared for algebra, or for that matter any career that involves keeping track of inventory or making change. But they do well on the TAAS.
Again, these gimmicks are not merely part of the curriculum. In some Texas schools, they have become the curriculum. Most frightening is that these practices have vocal defenders, those who will tell you that disadvantaged students need to know these tricks to compete with their peers, or that such instruction actually covers necessary basics.
What about the tremendous progress minorities are supposed to be making? It’s real, but there’s less than meets the eye. Blacks’ and Hispanics’ TAAS and NAEP results are improving nicely, but their college board scores are not. In fact, SAT scores for Texas Hispanics have actually dropped slightly in recent years. Apologists claim that this is due to rising numbers of Hispanics taking the SAT, but the increase in Hispanic SAT takers is in line with the increase in the Hispanic population.
Schools are ranked as "recognized" or "exemplary" based on their TAAS scores despite having combined SAT scores that average in the 800s or ACT scores in the teens. Texas’ Region I, an area that stretches along the Rio Grande from the Gulf of Mexico to Laredo and is the most Hispanic area in Texas, saw SAT scores drop from 1993 to 1997, a period in which scores rose slightly nationally.
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قبلة الوداع|8.16.11 @ 10:29PM|#
thank u
قبلة الوداع|8.16.11 @ 11:04PM|#
ThaNk U