Inside Four Walls: More CST results...

So a couple of days ago I talked about my CST scores and how they were off a little bit from my predictions and what not.

So today, after our meeting, I went back and decided to count the number of A's & B's in each of my periods and then the number of A's & B's that were proficient or advanced. Then I took those two and divided the proficient/advanced A's & B's by total A's & B's. I felt that this would give me a good feel of if the course was lined up with the CST results. I hate seeing a basic, below basic, or far below basic and think they got an A or B in the class.

This will be listed number of A's & B's that were proficient or advanced : total number of A's & B's
2nd period Algebra B - 10 : 10 (100%)
3rd period Algebra 2 - 13 : 15 (87%)
4th period Algebra 2 - 5 : 11 (45%)
5th period Geometry - 14 : 18 (78%)
6th period Geometry - 6 : 9 (67%)

A couple of notes and observations. Anyone can see the sore thumb is 4th period...so what happened? Well for one I had a student who was out for a month with an illness who missed a complete chapter...not a big one, just series & sequences (there was sarcasm there by the way). So she took the test not knowing an entire chapter. And I had another student in that same class that was one of those, I will study super hard for this test and forget about it after the test. In fact, there were probably more than one, but she stuck out in my mind during the year. So if you take out those 2 you would be closer to 55% or higher. For my 6th period, 2 of the B students were literally one question away from a proficient. The score needed to be a 350 and they were at 348.

So what do I get from this? Basically, it tells me that my course is pretty close to what the results are going to be. Some might ask about the C students that were proficient or advanced and there were a few, probably 5 to 10. And those C students are the ones that don't do the homework and blow off a project. They know that they can raise their grade 7 - 10% based on their CST score. Besides, we have had plenty of talks about A's & B's not lining up with their CST score. So in those respects, I am happy.

Inside Four Walls: CST scores are in...

Ok I know I don't like evaluating my performance as a teacher based off of one test, but I am curious on how they do. And yet this year I looked at something that makes me think these tests aren't as good as some might think.

Anyway, back in April I posted my predictions for the CST scores (whole thing is HERE). But to refresh your memory here is what I predicted for the tests;

As for my prediction, with a little rationing behind it. I took the percentages of students that have a C or higher to come up with my numbers. These are the top percentages I can see of my students being proficient or advanced, because we all know basic or lower doesn't count.

• Algebra B - 53%
• Algebra 2 - 60%
• Geometry - 53%

I would be happy with those, but my gut tells me they will be lower, not higher. Oh well, let's have them take the test and then wait til summer for the results to come in.

I love that last line about being lower not higher. And it looks as though my gut was right.

Algebra B - 53% just like I predicted.

Geometry - 39% off by 14%. (40% Basic)

Algebra 2 - 36% off by 24%. (41% Basic)

So this year I looked at the scaled scores. It worked out to were if it was 350 or higher that was proficient or advanced. I noticed a bunch of 340, which are basic. So that was my moment of zen so to speak. All it takes is one mistake to miss it and that's it. An adding mistake, multiplying or whatever. These tests really can't say if they understand the concept because they are rooted in elementary math skills which I am not supposed to cover. Oh well.



So I put in those border kids and my new percentages were

Algebra B - 60%
Geometry 50%
Algebra 2 - 43%

still off, and it doesn't matter because nothing is taken into account just the scores themselves. Now comes my favorite part when we get our score back with our names next to them with everyone else's scores. I just don't want to be at the bottom. But with those Geometry scores I might be.

I don't know what these say about me as a professional. Does it mean I only know how to teach Algebra B? I don't know. I don't know what to read into it. I knew my Algebra 2 scores would be low because I had quite a few Juniors and they really don't try anymore. As for my Geometry classes, one period was really smart and the other...not so much. So I am not surprised.

I think for next year when I do my predictions, I will count 75% and up, not any C. That might make it a bit more accurate. Until next time.