Ohio Achievement Tests

[ballparent]

Ohio Achievement Testing (OAT) in grades 3-8 will begin starting tomorrow. School districts were given the option to choose either an April 21st or April 28th start date. For those of you with children in these grades help prepare them to do their best. Here's a link to find out more about your child's test:

http://ohio3-8.success-ode-state-oh-us.info/

[ballparent]

I did a search (on both google and yahoo) to find any news articles in Ohio announcing Ohio testing dates or informing parents of upcoming tests. They were very few if any specifically addressing the testing dates. So, either Ohio media does not consider the testing to be newsworthy material or the schools are doing a poor job of getting the announcements out for their parents to view. As much pressure as is put on teachers, students, and districts concerning these tests, I was sure it would have been easy to find info. I did find this article from Chillicothe in their news brief section. Kudos to them.

CMS students urged not to miss exams
Chillicothe Middle School's principal is asking parents to help the district by ensuring students are at school during upcoming achievement tests.
"During the Ohio achievement testing we would ask that you make every effort to avoid any appointments for your student on the testing dates and times," said Bob Crabtree, CMS principal, in a press release.

If a student starts a test and then has to leave the school for the remainder of the day for any reason, the student will not be permitted to complete the unfinished test as a make-up, which will cause the student and the school to receive a potentially low score on that particular test.

If a student has to leave school for an unavoidable appointment during testing, Crabtree said that student would be better off to miss the entire day because he or she then will have an opportunity to make-up the missed test.

Test times for most students will be in the morning from about 7:45-10:30 a.m. on the following dates: April 21, reading for grades 6, 7, 8; April 22, math for grades 6,7, 8; April 23, writing for grade 7; April 24, science for grade 8; April 25, social studies for grade 8.

A good night's rest and a normal breakfast could also be helpful for a child's best test performance, Crabtree recommended.

[orange-n-brown 365]

well my son says Friday we have testing this coming week of course I knew what it was so I ask what is it? I don't know some test the state says we have to take BOYS

I'm planning on printing off the 3rd grade so someone will be ready for next year

[ballparent]

Fido quote:
As much emphasis put on these test, you would think every newspaper in the state would have it plastered on the front page, listing dates/times and how to help prepare their kids.

See, that's what I thought. And the more I looked the more shocked I was of how little the info was that was out there. I did overall searches on google and yahoo and then hit individual searches on most of the major newspapers in Ohio......and found little to nothing. Until the media and community (including parents) place emphasis on these tests it's unfair to lay all the responsibilty on teachers and school districts.

[orange-n-brown 365]

Fido quote:
As much emphasis put on these test, you would think every newspaper in the state would have it plastered on the front page, listing dates/times and how to help prepare their kids.

See, that's what I thought. And the more I looked the more shocked I was of how little the info was that was out there. I did overall searches on google and yahoo and then hit individual searches on most of the major newspapers in Ohio......and found little to nothing. Until the media and community (including parents) place emphasis on these tests it's unfair to lay all the responsibilty on teachers and school districts.

I never received word one about it from the school just checked the school website and not a word on it!

[alabama mike]

Involved parents? Did it freeze over? God bless the ones who are but the are very few and far between.

[orange-n-brown 365]

Involved parents? Did it freeze over? God bless the ones who are but the are very few and far between.

Amen I try to know everything that is going on.. We were told when we arrived at a IEP meeting for the first time it was unusual for Parents to show up
I was floored!

[ballparent]

Involved parents? Did it freeze over? God bless the ones who are but they are very few and far between.

Amen I try to know everything that is going on.. We were told when we arrived at a IEP meeting for the first time it was unusual for Parents to show up
I was floored!

And there folks, you have it, the answer to the $50,000 dollar question, from a parent and a school administrator,our country's educational crisis is due to an extreme lack of parent involvement in their child's education and the educational goals they should have for their child.

Do I sometimes feel like I'm beating my head against the wall, you betcha!

[orange-n-brown 365]

I have a friend who teaches in Columbus City Schools he never has any parents show up.. of course his class room is for the severely behaved kids...I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree there

[OZZIEOHIO]

My son has worried all weekend, He wok up at 630 this morning and is already dressed waiting to go start testing.

[eagles73Taylor]

Why isnt the papers and airwaves filled with talk about the state testing, because it is just like everything this else that comes out of a politicians mouth "Fluff!"

They wont do a darn thing to help anyone until they know it will help themselves. No child left behind, yeah right. Common sense will tell you that not every child will perform at every task at the same level. Why do Columbus and Washington DC spew this crap out, to get votes. They can pat themselves on the back and say, "We did our part, now you the public, parents and teachers are at fault!"

For those parents out there that are pushing education, bless you. You are not the norm it seems. School is more than just learning the academics, it is a microcosm for society. It is a little structured society where students learn how to interact with rules and consequences as well as academia.

I handle just as much social problems as academic problems in my time at school.

[whodeyAtown21]

Teach to the test!

[ballparent]

Teach to the test!

Trust me, most do the best they can but the stink'in state department keeps changing the questions!

[orange-n-brown 365]

Teach to the test!

Trust me, most do the best they can but the stink'in state department keeps changing the questions!

[eagles73Taylor]

I have a question for everyone, how many minutes a day do you think the average 5th grade student receives actual academic instruction?

[ballparent]

I have a question for everyone, how many minutes a day do you think the average 5th grade student receives actual academic instruction?

Let's try 150 minutes, probably about a half hour each for the five core subjects. Most of their day is probably filled with gym, music, library, art, etc. and don't forget recess.

[ballparent]

How did day 1 of testing go?

Very calm....scary.

[eagles73Taylor]

Here is just my list of typical interruptions or non academic time in a typical day.

20 - 30 minutes of announcements. So and so come to the office for example.

30 - 45 minutes of restroom time. I call it the bathroom bug, it goes around quicker than the flu, and you cant tell them no! lol

Switching classes, usually a minute or two before the switch and a minute or two after. Typically about 7 class switches so say 20 minutes.

30 minutes for lunch.

20 minutes for recess.

40 minutes a day for a special, gym, music, art or library.

So we will say about 175 minutes a day to non academic time.

Now, this isnt counting the number of times that we have to tell students to stop disrupting, I wont even try to track that one! lol

Our day is from 7:55 to 2:05, so it is just over six hours or 360 minutes, minus the 175 for a total of 185 actual class time. What do I think is actual instruction, less than that for sure when you start taking into account of handling social problems with the kids.

So that is 3 hours a day for 185 days.

[ballparent]

Well, I was off by 30 minutes. The days can get quite interesting, can't they?

[eagles73Taylor]

Yep, pretty good guess!

I am all for a year round school year. 4 days a week, 11 weeks on weeks 2 weeks off in between for 4 quarters. That gives you 44 weeks instruction, and 8 weeks break. Time the breaks up for Christmas and you have it.

Plus, it would help with sports, baseball and track could split into spring and summer. Football could be started a little earlier and not run into November. Basketball could get started and not run into football or track. Lots of pluses for going year round! IMO