Comments on: Value Added Training

By: TClarke

TClarke — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:50:32 +0000

I think it’s a step in the right direction. One of the biggest questions I get from teachers while analyzing data from year to year within a grade level is, “last year’s fourth graders are not this year’s fourth graders, is it really fair to compare them.”

With value-added, I think there is more recognition placed on the idea that a group of students starting at A will get to Z at a different rate than a group of students starting a C or D. They’re all going to the same place, but there are different rates of getting there. A year’s growth is GROWTH.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 12:11:55 +0000

I’m glad that there is attention being paid to this subject. Last year, the 7th grade ELA results were not exactly what I had been hoping for. However, after I’d analyzed all of the scores, I realized that there were 19 students who missed a score of 3 by 3 points or less. (That’s equivelant to 1 mulitple choice question and 1 piece of the editing task.) When I looked at those 19 students, close to half of them had raised their score from a low 2 to a high 2. They had made tremendous progress and it frustrated me that there was no attention paid to that.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 20:48:36 +0000

Kim,
You summed up the ‘Value-Added’ training well. It has the potential – provided we eventually include data from several more assessments.
Good to see you! I caught up on my blog reading today and came across one of your previous posts from Melissa regarding your job duties. I can so relate to the loneliness of a central office position! What resonated most was the work load. I find myself spending too much time in my office and not getting into classrooms more. Yet, as someone only part time, it becomes increasingly difficult to tear away from the paperwork, planning and organizing.
I look foward to your blogs and hope you will continue. They are always thought provoking!