Author : Terri Richardson Hebert
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 222 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (82 download)
Book Synopsis The Impact of State-mandated, High-stakes Testing on Fifth Grade Science Teachers' Instructional Practices by : Terri Richardson Hebert
Download or read book The Impact of State-mandated, High-stakes Testing on Fifth Grade Science Teachers' Instructional Practices written by Terri Richardson Hebert and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 222 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The appropriate methods utilized by school districts across the United States to measure student academic achievement has found an established place within the headlines of state and national newspapers, professional journals, and political offices. However, we seldom reach out to those in the classroom and engage in a meaningful dialogue about the pros and cons of high stakes, state mandated testing. Therefore, this study is designed to investigate the impact of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test upon three fifth grade science teachers' instructional practices. The participating school, nestled within a large East Texas school district, was selected because of their high test scores, as well as their creative approach to teaching. The selected teachers were chosen primarily for their recognized abilities within a science classroom, specifically as they work to reach a diverse group of students at varying levels of ability and instill within them the ability to master necessary scientific concepts found on the state-mandated, high-stakes test. Using the portraiture methodology for this qualitative study (Lawrence-Lightfoot & Davis, 1997), data were collected that provide a rich texture of the fifth grade classes within the elementary school setting. Through close observations, formal and informal interviews, and attention to the teachers' reflective work, the woven tapestry emerged in conjunction with the voices of the teachers.