Teaching for the Test: Social Studies Student Teacher Perceptions and Enactment of High Stakes Performance Assessments

Teaching for the Test: Social Studies Student Teacher Perceptions and Enactment of High Stakes Performance Assessments PDF Author: Meghan A. Kessler
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ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Teaching for the Test: Social Studies Student Teacher Perceptions and Enactment of High Stakes Performance Assessments

Teaching for the Test: Social Studies Student Teacher Perceptions and Enactment of High Stakes Performance Assessments PDF Author: Meghan A. Kessler
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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The Effects of High-Stakes Testing and Social Studies Pedagogy: An Examiniation of Social Studies Teaching Methods and Curriculum

The Effects of High-Stakes Testing and Social Studies Pedagogy: An Examiniation of Social Studies Teaching Methods and Curriculum PDF Author: Sarah Dawn Smilowitz
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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The purpose of this study was to examine how the changes in social studies teaching methods and content pedagogy have changed due to the increase in high-stakes testing in the area of secondary social studies. The primary questions addressed in this study were focused on teacher perceptions regarding high-stakes testing in social studies, and content pedagogy currently used in the social studies classroom. The participants in this study included 12 high school U.S. History teachers from 3 public schools. A phenomenological study was conducted to gather information related to the following research questions: (1) What are the perceptions of high school teachers regarding high-stakes testing? (2) What are the perceptions of high school teachers in regards to current teaching strategies commonly used in the social studies classroom? (3) What are the perceptions of teachers regarding what determines the correct teaching style or strategy utilized? (4) What are the perceptions of high school teachers regarding formative assessments and activities in correlation with high-stakes testing? Three common themes emerged from the data collected from the public school teachers: (1) High-stakes testing enhances teachers’ understanding of content knowledge and influences pedagogical strategies. (2) End of Course sample questions, primary source documents, and discussion are effective strategies used in formative and summative assessments in preparations for high-stakes learning. (3) High-stakes testing directly affects curriculum planning and pedagogical instruction. Study results also revealed unique themes shared by individual school sites. Themes shared by teachers at the high-achieving school (School A) were: (1) High-stakes testing was perceived negatively by teachers and created stressful working conditions for teachers. (2) Teachers sought outside references and sources to guide instructional activities in the classroom. One theme shared by teachers at the average-achieving school (School B) was: (1) Time constraints in teaching the U.S. History curriculum occurred due to the implementation of high-stakes testing. Themes shared by teachers at the low-achieving school (School C) were: (1) High-stakes testing limited the amount of content covered and depth of detail explored. (2) High-stakes testing negativity impacted teaching style. .

Minnesota Secondary Math and English Teachers' Perceptions Toward High Stakes Tests

Minnesota Secondary Math and English Teachers' Perceptions Toward High Stakes Tests PDF Author: Sheila A. Hendricks
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Achievement tests
Languages : en
Pages : 198

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Teachers' perceptions on high-stakes tests can contribute to student engagement and risk taking, critical thinking, creativity, and self-assessment skills. This quantitative study explored how teacher perceptions fit within the domains of positive and negative aspects of high-stakes tests, instructional practices, student work quality, and pressure associated with high-stakes tests. The findings are results from surveys. The survey instrument is the revised version of the Perception of High-Stakes Testing by National Board Certified Teachers. The findings and their implications are explored through four lenses: positive/negative aspects of high-stakes tests, instructional practices, quality of student work, and pressure associated with high-stakes tests. Teachers responsible for teaching to high-stakes tests are assessed by their peers, administration, communities, school board, and state and federal education organizations. Connections to pedagogy and perceptions of high-stakes tests in secondary math and reading courses are discussed.

Teacher Perceptions of the Impact of High-stakes Testing on Instruction

Teacher Perceptions of the Impact of High-stakes Testing on Instruction PDF Author: Steven A. Leever
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Educational tests and measurements
Languages : en
Pages : 154

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The purpose of this qualitative study was to determine the perceptions that middle level teachers held regarding the impact of high-stakes PSSA testing on mathematics classroom instruction in Pennsylvania middle school/junior high schools. An online survey, a review of teacher lesson plans, and focus group video conference discussions were used to probe how the PSSA had influenced planning and instruction. The results of this qualitative study indicate that teachers displayed some degree of satisfaction with the use of standards in their classrooms, but viewed their success on high-stakes tests with a degree of skepticism. Teachers expressed that their successes on the PSSA tests were, in part, due to their own understanding of the test, not necessarily the abilities of their students.

Educators' Perceptions of the Impact of High-stakes Testing on Instructional Practices in Mathematics

Educators' Perceptions of the Impact of High-stakes Testing on Instructional Practices in Mathematics PDF Author: Gail Carroll Peck
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Education, Elementary
Languages : en
Pages : 117

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High-stakes testing remains one of the most controversial aspects of No Child Left Behind legislation. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of teachers regarding the impact of high-stakes testing on instructional practices in the area of mathematics. A secondary purpose was to explore the relationship between personal beliefs and instructional practices. For the purpose of this study, the standardized test utilized was Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), which significantly differed from most high-stakes tests in that it is a diagnostic growth measure. Forty first and second grade teachers completed two surveys utilizing a forced choice format, one indicating personal beliefs and one indicating actual practices. Participants also completed a Likert scale survey to identify perceptions specifically related to mathematics instruction, student engagement, and assessment. Teachers also responded to interview probes. Common threads emerged in the reviewed literature. The majority of researchers identified narrowing of the curriculum, loss of teacher efficacy, increased teacher and student stress, and a move back to a traditional 'skill and drill' methodology as the major consequences of high-stakes testing. Results obtained in this study supported previous research. Three themes emerged in this study: a) change occurred in actual practice more significantly in instructional practice than student engagement practices, b) the impact was not as negative as teachers perceived, and c) teachers had a significant emotional response to the culture of high-stakes testing.

Jsl Vol 14-N5

Jsl Vol 14-N5 PDF Author: JOURNAL OF SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1475811497
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 135

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Book Description
The Journal of School Leadership is broadening the conversation about schools and leadership and is currently accepting manuscripts. We welcome manuscripts based on cutting-edge research from a wide variety of theoretical perspectives and methodological orientations. The editorial team is particularly interested in working with international authors, authors from traditionally marginalized populations, and in work that is relevant to practitioners around the world. Growing numbers of educators and professors look to the six bimonthly issues to: deal with problems directly related to contemporary school leadership practice teach courses on school leadership and policy use as a quality reference in writing articles about school leadership and improvement.

Social Problems and Social Movements

Social Problems and Social Movements PDF Author: James DeFronzo
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1442221550
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 520

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Book Description
Social Problems aims to not only introduce students to the key social problems discussed in most courses, but also to show them that change is possible by introducing them to key social movements working to solve some of these social problems.

School Social Workers' Perceptions of the Impact of High-stakes Accountability Testing in Schools

School Social Workers' Perceptions of the Impact of High-stakes Accountability Testing in Schools PDF Author: Christine Lagana Riordan
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 444

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Book Description
African American and Hispanic students and students from families with lower income are particularly at-risk for differential academic achievement and dropout. When students underachieve at school or dropout, they often face severe consequences such as increased risk of incarceration and unemployment. School social workers strive to prevent poor academic achievement and the associated negative outcomes. In recent years, federal and state education policy has focused on reducing disparities in academic achievement through the creation of policies that use high-stakes testing requirements to hold schools accountable for student learning. Research studies on teacher perceptions of high-stakes testing indicate that it is having a negative impact on their job tasks and on school systems. However, there are few studies that examine school social worker perceptions about the impact of high-stakes testing. This study examines school social workers' perceptions about high-stakes testing. Specifically, it assesses school social worker perceptions about the impact of high-stakes testing on school systems and how school ratings and student performance might influence these perceptions. It also examines school social workers' perceptions about the impact of high-stakes testing on their abilities to perform their work tasks. The study sample is drawn from respondents to the Texas School Social Work Survey (n=177). Data were analyzed through secondary data analysis using factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM). Findings indicate that school social workers perceive high-stakes testing as having a largely negative impact on school systems and their job tasks. School social workers who predominantly worked with students from ethnic minority backgrounds were more likely to have negative opinions about the impact of high-stakes testing on their job tasks. School social workers from schools with lower school ratings and those who felt that the students on their caseload tended to struggle on high-stakes tests had more negative perceptions about the impact of high-stakes testing on school systems. Results indicate the need for school social workers to become more involved in education policy and macro practice, to connect their services to improved academic outcomes for students, and to find new ways to provide school social work services in the "age of accountability."

Social Studies Teachers' Perceptions of Professional and Personal Preparedness to Facilitate Social Justice Discussions

Social Studies Teachers' Perceptions of Professional and Personal Preparedness to Facilitate Social Justice Discussions PDF Author: Donna Scott-Brown
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Culturally relevant pedagogy
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
This dissertation is about social studies teachers’ perceptions of professional and personal preparedness to facilitate social justice discussions. Due to a focus on high-stakes standardized testing in Math and English Language Arts (ELA), there has been a lack of emphasis on the content of social studies. This phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of high school social studies teachers and their perceptions of professional and personal preparedness to facilitate social justice discussions with their high school students. The theoretical framework is based on culturally responsive teaching and discussions. Culturally responsive teaching involves the diversity of student populations and how teachers interact with their diverse students. Teachers must find ways to connect with their diverse student populations. The second framework is discussions. Teacher facilitation of discussions is important because it encourages student engagement especially in social studies classrooms. This is a qualitative research study that uses a phenomenological approach. This approach was chosen in order to explore the lived experiences of the study participants, high school social studies teachers. The research questions asked about teachers’ perceptions of their professional and personal preparedness to facilitate social justice discussions with their high school students. Sixteen teachers from urban high schools volunteered to be interviewed for the study. Transcripts of the interviews were coded and analyzed. The research findings demonstrated that even if teachers were not professionally trained through coursework, they were self-taught or used their teaching experiences to prepare for these discussions. Also, the study revealed that all of the teachers had personal preparedness to discuss social justice issues with their students. Future research can expand this study to students and other regions.

Handbook of Social Influences in School Contexts

Handbook of Social Influences in School Contexts PDF Author: Kathryn R. Wentzel
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317670868
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 626

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Book Description
The Handbook of Social Influences in School Contexts draws from a growing body of research on how and why various aspects of social relationships and contexts contribute to children’s social and academic functioning within school settings. Comprised of the latest studies in developmental and educational psychology, this comprehensive volume is perfect for researchers and students of Educational Psychology. Beginning with the theoretical perspectives that guide research on social influences, this book presents foundational research before moving on to chapters on peer influence and teacher influence. Next, the book addresses ways in which the school context can influence school-related outcomes (including peer and teacher-student relationships) with specific attention to research in motivation and cognition. Within the chapters authors not only present current research but also explore best-practices, drawing in examples from the classroom. With chapters from leading experts in the field, The Handbook of Social Influences in School Contexts provides the first complete resource on this topic.