At first I couldn't get into this chapter, but once I started reading about Educational standards and standardize testing I found it pretty interesting. I think that as students in Florida we can all relate to how sometimes learning isn't fun anymore. All we here all day is "you need to know this for FCAT" or "this is going to be on the "FCAT". I completely agree that it should be the teachers driving the curriculum not the standardize test. I believe there is a whole week or two in March devoted to testing. Students take their FCAT (Math, English, Writing, and Science) and then if I am not mistaken they take the NRT's. How can you really assess a students just based off one form? Some students just don't take tests well. I am one of those. My hands start shaking whenever it comes to test time and I get jittery. I believe that student assessments should be comprised of a combination of both tests and performance. Just because a child doesn't do well on a test doesn't mean that he/she doesn't comprehend the curriculum;why not have them come up with a presentation to summarize what they have learned.
I also found surprising that there were websites with already made lesson plans for teachers to utilize. I'm not sure why since you can just about find anything on the internet, but I just thought that you had to come up with your own. It's really helpful to have such tools available especially if you are a new teacher.
