The Breakfast Club – #BFC530 – is a 15 minute, 1 question Twitter chat every weekday. We chat in 4 timezones Mon-Fri – 5:30am Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific Times. The mission of BFC is to empower participants to make a difference in education by engaging in consistent reflective practice in a supportive community that inspires and challenges one another.
Teach problem solving and the standards. More importantly let them know how much you care about them. Relationships Relationships Relationships #bfc530
Simple: You teach Ss to think. You teach them to solve problems, think critically, and connect what they learn to real-world problems they care about & the test scores will be fine. #bfc530
SOME assessment question should mirror standardized testing questions so that students are familiar with different styles prior to high stakes events.
#bfc530
I will say I am lucky as a "non" core teacher (Technology) I do not worry about standardized test because I'm not being assessed using any score. #bfc530
As an ELA teacher, I prepare my students with the communications skills I think are most important to their success in academia and life. I hope there is overlap with the test, but that is not my primary concern. #bfc530
Indeed! Any test is a baseline/milestone. To strictly teach to a test (for me), would be lowering my standards and lowering the quality of in-class learning & growth for my Ss. #bfc530
Teach the curriculum rather than the test. Ss need to learn certain topics/skills but should not be practicing test questions, memorizing, and learning how to take tests. #bfc530
My initial thought is, "what if we taught what our kids needed & totally ignore the test?". I wonder what would happen? Myguess is that the test scores would be just fine #bfc530
Simple: You teach Ss to think. You teach them to solve problems, think critically, and connect what they learn to real-world problems they care about & the test scores will be fine. #bfc530
I will say I am lucky as a "non" core teacher (Technology) I do not worry about standardized test because I'm not being assessed using any score. #bfc530
Good morning #bfc530. Excited-only two more sleeps before #edcampnj and today is a coach training day with other instructional coaches in my district. #bfc530
SOME assessment question should mirror standardized testing questions so that students are familiar with different styles prior to high stakes events.
#bfc530
SOME assessment question should mirror standardized testing questions so that students are familiar with different styles prior to high stakes events.
#bfc530
I will say I am lucky as a "non" core teacher (Technology) I do not worry about standardized test because I'm not being assessed using any score. #bfc530
If we provide authentic learning, incorporate standards, give multiple learning experiences, we have prepared Ss, for both the test and the real world! #bfc530
I will say I am lucky as a "non" core teacher (Technology) I do not worry about standardized test because I'm not being assessed using any score. #bfc530
I think the tests make many Ts teach from a place of fear—“What if my kids all fail?” I wish we could lessen tests impact & have everyone teach from a place of hope, peace, & love. #bfc530
In grade 3, the use of computers can be tricky. I get them on and doing things as often as possible so when I show the specifics of the test, it is easy and quick #bfc530
I teach history. In that class we read, gather information to build our knowledge base, & draw conclusions communicating them often in creative ways. If that doesnt help for the "test", then the tests are flawed. #bfc530
I will say I am lucky as a "non" core teacher (Technology) I do not worry about standardized test because I'm not being assessed using any score. #bfc530
My initial thought is, "what if we taught what our kids needed & totally ignore the test?". I wonder what would happen? Myguess is that the test scores would be just fine #bfc530
Indeed! Secret sauce: I reference & use the standards every day to ensure that the activities, etc. I curate for each student are perfectly matched for the S's custom growth path & what he/she cares about. #bfc530
If standardized tests are based on mandated curriculum (as they are in Ontario), shouldn’t at least part of what we teach be reflected in the ‘test’? It is a ‘snapshot’, correct? #bfc530
That message often comes from the top down. No more bar graphs that compare test scores year to year please admin. And school systems stop putting pressure on admin by looking only at pass rates. #bfc530
#bfc530 Prioritize the skills/ info. needed for the test but in a practical way that is teaches strategies for acquisition of knowledge. #buildlifelonglearners
Agree & that fear has created a stress across the school, not just testable subject teachers, but their students, & non-testable subject teachers. Biggest change in workplace environment in past 20 years. #bfc530
I do agree that the test makes teachers nervous and insecure. Honestly, I am glad that I have 30 years in. My reputation does not rely on the results. (And if it did, I am close to retiring) #bfc530
In my opinion, it's more than that. I have to know the standards & use the curriculum and whatever other resources I can to customize/maximize the growth for each student. #bfc530
Teach strategies that allow Ss to think outside the box, so they can respond to any test. The caveat: teach them how to work from first principles and ensure the Syllabus has been covered. #bfc530
I have an open door policy in that respect. Anyone is welcome anytime to come in and they will see 100% engagement. That environment produces powerful learning & growth. https://t.co/Glt4xwsLh9#bfc530
Feeling the irony as my son's district just recognized and celebrated the 12 students who got a perfect score on PARCC last night at the BOE meeting. #bfc530
Yesterday was supposed to be about Southern colonies. When the S ques “Why did people think it was ok to own people?” the plan changed, and we had a great discussion about real world things instead. Not on a test but more important. #bfc530
What if we prepare students it standardized tests by making the test itself the topic of critical analysis? Who created this test? What is its purpose? Who benefits from it? What kinds of actions might I take? @MediaLiteracyEd has great resources. #bfc530
Yesterday was supposed to be about Southern colonies. When the S ques “Why did people think it was ok to own people?” the plan changed, and we had a great discussion about real world things instead. Not on a test but more important. #bfc530
I make a @GetKahoot full of past multiple choice questions from our @eqao test so they get used to MC which I don't use on my tests. We play on shuffle ~10 questions per game.
#bfc530
What if we prepare students for standardized tests by making the test itself the topic of critical analysis? Who created this test? What is its purpose? Who benefits from it? What kinds of actions might I take? @MediaLiteracyEd has great resources. #bfc530
Me too! And you know kids have all kinds of questions about everything. Teach them from the heart, explore with an open mind, and you can have rich learning experiences that aren’t measured by standardized tests! #bfc530
Ss have to at least be familiar with the format of the test. I felt so bad for my Ss b/c they were used to learning for learning & not taking a test that some froze during the common assessment. #bfc530
It's a thing. Einstein did very few lab experiments but a lot of thought experiments. The classic being his thought experiment on the effect of gravity on time. If establish the most basic premise and build from that logically, you'll arrive at a solution. #bfc530
Good morning #bfc530 we are looking for educators who would be willing to be part of a unique experience as judges in our Virtual Poetry Slam on 11/30. Sign ups are below.
https://t.co/has1S9llAL
I always made it clear to students that I wouldn’t mention the test if they didn’t mention the test. I knew what they needed to know and trusted they’d be ready. #bfc530
Honest question... If ALL the research points to NO BENEFITS of homework, and our schools look to use “research based” solutions and strategies, why are schools/districts still allowing homework? 🤔🤔🤔 #edchat#JoyfulLeaders#suptchat#adminchat#satchat#bfc530
Morning, #bfc530. Cultivate problem-solving moxie with students & frame standardized tests as another type of problem. Orient students re: what to expect on test. Emphasize how/why as students curate mandated who/what/when/where. (Got my 280 characters worth!)
