dibels

Yes, I said it. dibels. No other word strikes more fear into a teacher. (Well, except for maybe the words, "You're getting a new student" =) For those of you wondering what in the world dibels is, it is a test (originally from Oregon) that scores a number of reading indicators. It can be a good thing in that it can help a teacher know where students are on the reading progression...but too many times it is used to compare students, teachers, and schools. I HATE the idea of comparing children and even worse, judging them based upon a score...a score derived from a test on one day...a day when that child may not have had breakfast, a day when maybe their dog died, a day when maybe they just don't feel as good as can be.
Well, our school gives our Dibels on Thursday...I teach first graders and we are terrified our scores won't be "benchmark". In my humble opinion, politicians (as well as teachers) should look for progress in students, not a final score to compare student A to student B. I wish more people who make laws regarding education were teachers...even for a day.
Don't even get me started on No Child Left Behind ...as if we could ever expect every student to read on grade level by an arbitrary date. As if we could just expect an educator to work miracles...regardless of whether a child has a learning disability or maybe just doesn't learn as fast as others in his or her grade level. That would be the equivalent of me going out to a coach and telling them they must get all the students in their PE class to run the mile in 7 minutes. It doesn't matter what you do or how hard you push...it is just not going to happen. That is not to say the students won't show progress...and get better. But we are not cookie cut people...some of us are gifted in one area and not in others. We are individuals and our strengths should be celebrated.