Does Standardized Testing Really Evaluate Your Kid's Learning? By Tim Johnson

The following article “ Does standardized testing really evaluate your kid’s learning?” written by Tim Johnson, examines the effects of standardized testing for parents, students and teachers while evaluating the importance of standardized testing linked to student success. This article examines the up rise of anxiety for all members that are involved when standardized testing is held; there is pressure on the students to perform well, teachers are pressured from administrators about scores and the effect on the school reputation, while parents are concerned about their child’s learning. As well, there is also concern for young parents about the results of the standardized testing which happen to dictate how the parent will choose where to
However some argue that the standardized testing is misleading, as it does not give a comprehensive appraisal of student performance, that a report card delivers. As well, a focus on students with special needs and their accommodations when taking the test are looked upon. There should be more focus on non-cognitive qualities such as resiliency and creativity, as standardizes testing excludes other important measures of a student’s health , well-being and overall learning, Furthermore, the article presents an analysis of the different changes that are made to standardized testing that are delivered in various provinces and its effect on student success. Overall, this article discusses the various supportive and dissenting opinions in regards to the link between standardized testing and student
It is crucial to examine the stress that is put upon the various members that are involved in ensuring the test is conducted. Students are more focused on repeating the information for the sole purposes of performing well, rather than enjoying what is taught. Teachers are formulating their lesson plans based on the contents of the standardized testing, thus the basics of reading, writing, and math in either grade three, six, nine and ten. The structure of the lessons are very specific, such as how to write a newspaper article or to be able to create a summary, however this means there is not an equal emphasis on the importance of subjects such as social sciences or visual arts within the classroom. This is not impartial, as each students excels in varied subjects. As well, there is a lack of consideration of the stress that is put upon the students. For example, Lisa Jorgensen, a concerned parent, had stated that her daughter “commented in several occasions that she was nervous about the EQAO, because she was worried about ‘failing’” (Johnson 2015). This shows that the child was more focused on knowing how to do the assigned topic that