1. I'm in the Edmonds School District and every elementary school in the district uses TERC. It is terrible. The makers of TERC also developed parts of our WASL test. This curriculum matches what kids need to know for the WASL which is why districts choose it.

Not only is WASL a silly test, but it brings us a terrible curriculum, which is why I don't let my kids take it.

Posted by: Agent 99 on December 1, 2007 10:43 PM

2. I'm in the Edmonds School District and every elementary school in the district uses TERC. It is terrible. The makers of TERC also developed parts of our WASL test. This curriculum matches what kids need to know for the WASL which is why districts choose it.

Not only is WASL a silly test, but it brings us a terrible curriculum, which is why I don't let my kids take it.

Posted by: Agent 99 on December 1, 2007 10:43 PM

3. I'm in the Edmonds School District and every elementary school in the district uses TERC. It is terrible. The makers of TERC also developed parts of our WASL test. This curriculum matches what kids need to know for the WASL which is why districts choose it.

Not only is WASL a silly test, but it brings us a terrible curriculum, which is why I don't let my kids take it.

Posted by: Agent 99 on December 1, 2007 10:44 PM

4. Agent 99, Your comments are very interesting. I hadn't heard that the TERC folks had anything to do with the WASL. That explains a lot!

I have always wondered why the WASL doesn't include one section of "old" math that is not so language-based. It would be interesting to see how many of our students who have trouble with the math WASL are getting hung up with the language, not the math per se.

For another perspective on how to effectively teach math, see this article at the Washington University in St. Louis web site, "Kumon mathematics fills gap in education system." http://record.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/10578.html

The Kumon philosophy posits that it's imperative to get the basics down first... the applications will follow.

Posted by: raeven on December 2, 2007 04:36 AM

5. Raeven,

If you look deeper into WASL issues you will see that WASL has nothing to do with high standards.

I don't remember where I read it (probably the Seattle Times), but a high percentage of students that fail the math WASL are the same students that fail the writing WASL. So your suspicions are correct. This also explains why students that fail the math WASL pass math on other tests like the SAT and why many students that pass the math WASL need remedial math when they enter college (this was the case of my niece who 'aced' integrated math classes in high school and the math WASL).

WASL protestors are not crazy, we have good reason and facts to back up why WASL is ruining education.

I am strongly pushing politician and education leaders to substitute SAT or other tests for WASL scores. I would much rather my child prepare for the SAT than the WASL. For students not planning to go on to four year colleges they could use an entrance test to a technical field or military entrance test.

Currently, it is said that students can use SAT scores, but most schools don't know how to access this alternative and they don't promote it. A student must also fail WASL twice and keep taking WASL remedial classes to use alternatives such as an SAT score.

I believe that if there were more options for a student to prove that they have math skills, then the schools would offer more variety in the types of math classes that they offer (currently in high school it is all integrated math, as that lines up with WASL).

Just my two cents.

Posted by: Agent 99 on December 2, 2007 01:45 PM

6. Agent 99,

I'm not a big WASL fan myself. I don't understand why WA feels it has to reinvent the wheel. Surely there are other tests being used around the country that are less difficult to understand; less costly to administer and grade; more scrutinized to make sure each test question is worthwhile; and scored less subjectively.

In my district, the tests were administered in April, but the scores were not sent home to parents until mid or late September. By the time a parent finds out the score, the child has moved into another grade and has a new teacher, undercutting the value of the test as far as the student & his family are concerned.

I hadn't heard about the SAT alternative before. I think that would be a great idea (if it were separated out from the "requirements" you mentioned), along with the other tests you mentioned.

It seems like WASL reformers have an uphill battle with school officials and board members remaining enthusiastic about the WASL, despite cogent parent criticism.
Some paragraphs from this Seattle Times article follow the url:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004049135_graduation03m.html

"Tuesday, State Board of Education members will be in Seattle to discuss raising the minimum number and types of classes students need to graduate from high school, and perhaps changing other state graduation requirements, such as the in-depth "culminating" project.

The board members aren't looking at removing the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) as one of the graduation requirements -- that's something they support, said Edie Harding, the board's executive director."

Good luck with your efforts.

Posted by: raeven on December 3, 2007 06:06 PM

7. I don't think math education is going to get much better, as our state superintendent, Terry Bergeson, is dead set in keeping reform math around. She has contracted with the Dana Center to re-write our state math standards. All this will do is give us more of the same.
http://www.wheresthemath.com/blog/2007/12/04/bergeson-repackaging-discovery-based-math-standards/

Posted by: Agent 99 on December 4, 2007 11:20 PM

Name:


Email Address:


URL:


Comments:


Remember info?