tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31275558.post7722653449887236119..comments2023-10-11T07:31:34.646-04:00Comments on WritingFrameworks: A Glimpse Inside Two ELA ClassroomsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16650751013466948312noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31275558.post-523324525839385082008-11-19T21:19:00.000-05:002008-11-19T21:19:00.000-05:00Wow, this is exciting stuff. Too often we view pr...Wow, this is exciting stuff. Too often we view preparing for the looming NYS Assessments by drill and kill practice.<BR/><BR/>We are now beyond getting used to the "format" of the test or even learning to take the test. I think that NYS and NCLB has taken care of seeing to it that our children know how to sit through a test.<BR/><BR/>The teachers you mentioned are rising to the occasion and have started to change the way they do business, addressing the standards and the test in meaningful ways.<BR/><BR/>The mistake manager form is really interesting to me.<BR/><BR/>Kudos to these teachers for having the courage to reflect and share.eduguy101https://www.blogger.com/profile/05015134065851829753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31275558.post-48750751829674188362008-11-19T19:22:00.000-05:002008-11-19T19:22:00.000-05:00Sounds like a great, T. I have always felt that "t...Sounds like a great, T. I have always felt that "test prep" doesn't have to be a practice or old exam, but that parallel tasks could be made using ANY title or content...a listening passage about the author or setting, a graphic organizer paired with a small excerpt of the text, a short answer question that elicits main idea or author's purpose, and some multiple choice items based on content, meaning, contextual vocabulary, etc. Preparing kids for the test involves identifying the embedded skills and designing creative and engaing ways to embed those same skills into the content we teach. You certainly found a way to help the first teacher in this direction. In addition, test prep involves teaching kids to be critical thinkers and reflective of their work. This is clearly evident in the second teacher you speak of. Finally, you are right on the money when you say that assessments can be both formative and summative. And, more importantly, you are right that we need to take time to celebrate what we do right and the successes of our students! Nice post!Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09077084731717782271noreply@blogger.com