Posts tagged with highstakes

Testing: Stereotype Threat and the Perversion of Incentives, Part III

May20

Note: This post has been updated from an earlier version to correct links that were incorrect, or had errors. Photo Credit: lunch note on flickr photosharing In my first part, I discussed how students could under-perform on a high stakes test, like the California High School Exit Exam ,in a way that has nothing to [...]

Testing: Stereotype Threat and the Perversion of Incentives, Part II

May6

Photo Credit: Monopoly Justice on flickr photosharing In my first part, I discussed how students could under-perform on a high stakes test, like the California High School Exit Exam, in a way that has nothing to do with their true ability or knowledge. That’s students, it was an article on excessive bonuses that caught my [...]

Testing: Stereotype Threat and the Perversion of Incentives, Part I

May4

Photo Credit: Rorschach Test 1 on flickr photosharing As I’ve shared already, it’s testing season. This is the second year I’ve been a prep teacher, and therefore not had a specific group of students whose scores I was “tied” to. I’ve also noted that I’m not feeling as angry, stressed, annoyed this testing season, and [...]

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All of Ms. Mercer's text, lessons, graphics, etc. are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution- Noncommercial 3.0 License. Creative Commons License

Howdy! I teach sixth grade at an elementary school in Sacramento, CA. I started my career in Oakland, Ca, and moved here to Sacramento in 2001.

My goals are:

  1. To reflect on how I am teaching, and how effective my practices are;
  2. To integrate and embed technology in the curriculum I teach; and,
  3. To network with other like-minded educators.

To help me reach my goals, I use this blog as a place for me to reflect on best practices, and the practices I’m (trying to) putting in place in my classroom.

My philosophy of teaching is pragmatic (I’ll use what works, and I’m not particularly wed to one theory or another). I want students thinking critically, and engaged in what they are learning (Constructivism), but I know that many of my students (language learners and others) need schema, scaffolding, and explicit modeling, so I’m not afraid to use those as well.

My philosophy of technology education is that teaching comes first, but technology is an awesome tool to use to engage students, and help them create stuff. I prefer that the learning goal guide the use of technology, and not the other way around.

That’s the big picture. Other salient details are that I can be sharp, but I prefer to see the positive and connect with others rather than fighting and argufying. I can be hard on others (having high expectations), but no harder than I am on myself.

I can be contacted here.

Disclaimer

The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not those of Sacramento City Unified School District.