[LIT] Running Records/IRI/Miscue Analysis/NWEA

[Lori Jackson]

"This is an awesome tool that can be misused."

So well stated and true of nearly any good assessment.  When assessment becomes evaluation, we are in trouble.  I am convinced
that any good assessment has the potential to go Mr. Hyde on us in the hands of wrong minded people. Thank you so much for
your explanation.  Our  state level computer testing is like this, but the reports are deficit focused, rather than a summary
of what the child could do vs. what can now be done.

Lori

TLP wrote:

> --- Lori Jackson <ljackson at gwtc.net> wrote:
>
> > Would you describe the NWEA for me?  I am so
> > unfamiliar with the range of assessments available
> > for middle school students and would appreaciate the
> > opportunity to know more.
> >
>
> http://www.nwea.org/
> This is an awesome tool that can be misused. The
> diagnostics are helpful but are quickly being used to
> rank teachers. Students who do not "progress"
> accordingly as determined by the comparisons of
> testing from fall to spring are targeted and the
> teacher in those subjects ...well...I'll let you know
> as I had many kids supposedly progress beyond
> expectations and some who backslid (is that a
> word??!!)For instance a 99 % to a 98% ...this is our
> first 3 test round so I'll find out when school starts
> and I expect it won't be pretty. I also had blatantly
> unreliable scores that were proved way off target by
> subsequent testing (In the same NWEA format...) I feel
> the premise is good and I love the idea of a
> diagnostic tool to help me better serve my students. I
> am just afraid of how it will be used....
>
> TLP
>
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--

Lori Jackson
District Literacy Coach & Mentor
Todd County School District
Mission, South Dakota

2006 Literacies for All Summer Institute
Redefining Literacies: Expanding Our Vision of What is Possible
July 13-16, 2006
Charlotte, North Carolina