A new approach to taking tests recently launched in area schools is the right approach.
Area schools, including International Falls and Indus, have taken a look at how these valuable tests of our young people have been implemented in the past and how the students have reacted.
What they’ve found is that making some minor changes can yield big results on these measures of learning.
These changes make sense at a time when the International Falls School District and the South Koochiching-Rainy River School District — home to the Indus and Northome Schools — are not meeting federal No Child Left Behind guidelines for “adequate yearly progress” due to low testing scores.
At the Falls, the schedule and structure of the tests have shifted from previous years. Other changes at the Falls included test-day breakfasts, discussions by school administrators and teachers with students about the significance of the tests, and even giving students mints before heading to their testing rooms.
At Indus, students were reminded to skip late-night movies in favor of getting a good night’s sleep and to eat nutritious breakfasts on test days. And elementary students went straight to their tests after snack time in the morning with the idea that fruits and vegetables as a snack will help their minds stay energetic.
Improving the results of the standardized tests each student is required to pass is important. They impact a district’s standing in the community and the state, but more importantly impact their student’s ability to graduate with a high school degree.
Clearly, the teachers and administrators in our school districts understand the value of doing well on the tests. Kudos to the people involved in making these changes in an effort to help our students perform the best they can.
