We started AIMS testing today at school. I'm never sure what I think about standardized testing. I think if there was a different type of accountability at different intervals I wouldn't have as big of a problem with it. Plus, high stakes is unfair. We all get hung out to dry for things that we don't plan and can't control.
I didn't really want to talk about testing though, or not in that sense. Instead I wanted to think about the writing prompt and the sort of questions I get from the kids. The prompt was about if you were hiring someone what sort of qualities would you be looking for. The problem is that it doesn't tell you what kind of job nor who the audience is. Kids wanted to know if they should pick a specific job and look for qualities in that job or just in general. I think if I were writing I would have said general qualities that any employee should have. Mostly I'm not sure why they pick these things and why they think that 10th graders care enough to write about these things.
Maybe they should have teachers writing the prompts. Then again, if they do, I don't know what to say. I think comparing and contrasting their most and leave favorite candy bars, or the benefits of having a cell phone, or why myspace is fun might be more successful.
Of course, I also had the idea of putting homework on myspace so it would get done. Brilliant!