Training and Testing - Teachers Must Be In Charge!

This will be a quick blog because I wonder what the training will look like to prepare teachers for administering the Common Core tests or tests that are more "situational" in nature.  This is interesting to me because I am preparing to become a Group Fitness Instructor and have to take an exam that is set up along the same format.  I will be given a situation and out of four possible choices, I must choose the best solution or path based on my accumulated knowledge.

So far, I haven't taken any of the practice exams yet, but the complexity of the material reminds me of the knowledge required to be an effective teacher.  Group Fitness Instructors must know various learning styles, be aware of the different needs or limitations of the learners within their classes and offer appropriate adaptations and most importantly, be motivational.

Does any of that sound familiar? In fact, two chapters and a little more of the manual made me feel right at home because Group Fitness Instructors are teachers in every sense of the word.  Outstanding GFI's are just like outstanding teachers - he or she can monitor and adjust the pace and focus of the class rapidly because assessing the needs of the group and the individuals making up the group become second nature to a professional.  Instinct helps a teacher to pick up when students aren't mastering a skill and experience gives a teacher many tools to offer adaptations for a student to become successful and feel included.

The trick is knowing when and how to step in and offer assistance.  Experienced, successful teachers will tell you that "the trick" is offering the student a chance to communicate with you in a non-threatening way. You are not their friend, but you are there to get things right.  So make yourself available as much as possible in ways that don't attract attention. Ask the student for help putting away materials or other easy chores.

I hope that the training teachers receive to implement testing will be effective.  I hope that teachers will be able to work together to develop strategies to prepare students for these complex test questions. Most of all, I hope that if the training sessions are ineffective - that the feedback teachers give on evaluation sheets will be noted and more effective training will be offered. Speak up! Demand time and training!  Teachers are the professionals and it is time for us to have a much larger role in test implementation.