Assessing the Whole Child

Most schools assess children by using standardized testing. “A standardized test is any form of test that (1) requires all test takers to answer the same questions, or a selection of questions from common bank of questions, in the same way, and that (2) is scored in a “standard” or consistent manner, which makes it possible to compare the relative performance of individual students or groups of students.” (Education Reform 2013). There aren't any accommodations of the test no matter of the child experiences, learning ability, or cultural background. Each child is given the same test and scored based on these one set of questions.

In my opinion, standardized testing is not helping children educationally. They do not have long term effects and are just based on memory and not really what the child has learned. These “test evaluate whether students have learned what they are expected to learn.” (Education Reform 2013).  . Teachers are basically just teaching the test. Some children may not even be able to comprehend how the question is worded and may choose the wrong answer. Some schools get so wrapped up in having high test scores they cause other subjects to be limited such as art, physical education, social studies, and music.

Working with 4 and 5-year-olds I've noticed that they grasp information more when learning is interesting and fun. Standardized tests are not improving the achievement and educational success of the children because they take the fun out of learning and the pressure can cause the children to become stressed. Stress can lead to poor health and also cause the children to become less interested in school or learning in general.

The US is said to be average when it comes to education but Finland is rated as having the best educational system in the world. Finland children do not start school until the age of 7 and are not measured at all for the first six years of their education. There is only one standardized test in Finland and the children take it when they are 16 years of age. The children are taught in the same classroom no matter of their levels of learning and they rarely take exams or do homework until they are well in their teens. The children spend 75 minutes of recess a day compared to the US 25 minutes and the teachers all have master degrees and are selected from the top 10 percent of their classes. (Business Insider 2013).

References:

Business Insider (2011, December 14). 26 Amazing facts about Finland’s unorthodox education system. Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/finland-education-school-2011-12?op=1

The Glossary of Education Reform. (2013, August 29). Standardized test. Retrieved from http://edglossary.org/standardized-test/