Rashunda Ford

CT807-M6-Syliva-Dilemma

Sylvia teaches 2nd and 3rd grade in an urban school. She teaches a diverse group of students.

Her students are a mix of ethnic backgrounds and academic skills and abilities including learning

disabilities and special needs. Her classroom is constantly changing, with an influx of students in and out

of her room. Toward the end of the first semester, she received a new student, Randy. Randy was from

Romania and this his first school in the United States. Randy could not speak English at all. Sylvia had to

teach Randy English as well as the second-grade curriculum. She also had to teach him social skills and

how to adjust to his new life in the U.S. Sylvia and her teaching partner develop an individual

instructional plan. Randy worked independently on his English with a fourth-grade buddy, on the

computer, and one-on-one with Sylvia. Randy began to make progress and carry on simple

conversations. He was cooperative and enthusiastic about learning.

Sylvia started to feel nervous due to the standardized state text coming up soon. Sylvia knew

that Randy was not prepared for this test and could not pass it. She felt the test would be a

demoralizing experience for Randy. The test was a requirement for all students no matter if the student

can speak, read, and write English. During the test, the teacher is only allowed to read the questions

twice, but not clarify the questions. Sylvia had to change Randys daily routine drastically. She began

making Randy apart of the group for instruction and reduced his one-on-one instruction to prepare him

for the state test. Randy became frustrated and defiant. His behavior became difficult to control. Sylvia

faced the dilemma of administering the test to Randy which result in the test showing that Randy was

well behind compared to his peers. Sylvia was unsure if Randy could be exempt from taking the test so

she decided to prepare him for the test.

 I think Sylvias dilemma is a difficult one. I think it is unfair to make students who have very

limited English proficiency take standardized tests. Standardized tests are a requirement for all

students, however I think an alternative test should be offered in place of standardized test for ELL

students. Randy is an example of an exceptional student as mentioned in Chapter 13. Standard

curriculum and standardized tests do not apply to all students. Not all students learn the same and

differentiated instruction is needed in classrooms today. A new system should be developed that would

accommodate all students. Teachers like Sylvia are put in a terrible position when faced with this type

of dilemma. Our job as teachers is to educate students by providing differentiated instruction based on

each students needs and abilities. I do not think so much emphasis should be put on standardized

tests. Ensuring that students can master grade-level curriculum is more important than passing

standardized tests.