Teachers are Everything Flashcards
Most research indicates that less than _ _% of a student’s academic success in school is attributable to schools, and teachers are only a part of that overall school effect, perhaps not even the most important part.
30%. Berliner, 2012 Myth 9.
Student achievement is most strongly associated with what other variables?
Socioeconomic status is the major one. Others include neighborhood, language usage in the home, health of the home environment, home access to medical care, Home access to books, games, activities that prepare students for school. These have at least twice the influence as inside-of-school factors which include teachers (Berliner, 2012) Myth 9
Accountability measures should grow out of a realistic perspective on the important work teachers do, and recognize that accountability for student achievement is broadly shared by…
Families, communities, school boards, state and federal governments, and society in general. Berliner & Glass 2014 Myth 9
Teacher salary, as a percent of average gross domestic product per capita, has fallen – % a year every year from year —- until now.
2% each year since 1970, Auguste, Kihn, & Miller, 2010. Myth 10
American teachers are paid less than counterparts in many other countries based on what four factors?
1) relative to wages with similar levels of education, 2) amount of time spent teaching each day, 3) salary between starting and experience teachers, and 4) salary trends over the past decade. Berliner & Glass, 2014, Myth 10
Explain VAM (Value added measurement.
Most states have adopted some form of VAM. It is a method to statistically measure teacher performance based on student test scores. Designed to measure student growth from year to year. Problems with instrument validity as well as impeding teacher collaboration, Leana, 2011. Myth 11.
Who are the “money kids?”
Kids who get teachers big bonuses (Amrein-Beardsley & Collins, 2012) Myth 11
What does the research say about high stakes testing in regard to cheating?
It is inevitable. (Nichols & Berliner, 2007).
Test scores are influenced by….
Family affection, income, hardships, neighborhood crime rates, after-school facilities, hunger and hormones (Berliner, 2012) Myth 11
Research on VAM scores…
VAM scores vary erratically from year to year for the same teacher who teaches in the same way (Newton, Darling-Hammond, Haertel, & Thomas, 2010) Myth 11
What percentage of U.S. public school children are retained or “flunked” at least once?
It is likely that at least 10%. Despite extensive research demonstrating this policy is usually ineffective or harmful (Berliner, 2014).
Name some expectations for retained students?
1) more negative attitude toward school, 2) higher absenteeism rate over time (Brophy 2006, Dennis et al., n.d.; Shepard & Smith, 1989). 3) Increased likelihood of disciplinary incidents & suspensions for both boys and girls, effecting poor more than the wealthy.
What group makes up the majority of students retained?
Poor minorities (Berliner, 2014)
What programs appear to work better than retention?
Targeted summer programs, tutoring, high-quality preschool, and small class size in first few grades (Berliner, 2014).
What role does bias play in retention decisions?
1) more likely to be male than female, 2) more likely English language learners than native speakers, 3) more likely black or Hispanic, 4) poor rather than afluent, 5) more likely from a single parent household, 6) more likely to change schools frequently,
