<< So my question to Karen, especially is -- why the timed tests? >>
I never made any comments about timed tests, but since this question was
directed at me....
Putting the entire philosophical part of this question aside...... If I don't
give my students timed tests, they will collapse in their next math class that
*does* have timed tests. I know this from experiences of getting students
whose previous teachers gave a lot of extended time.... The students can't
adjust to the timed test and anxiety is even higher than it would have been
had they gotten more accustomed to a timed situation.
On the other side of this question...
1) If my student is going on to be an elementary school teacher, she better
know how to do a long division problem quickly "on her feet", because she'll
be under the gun with 25 little faces staring at her.
2) If my student is going on to be a nurse, she better know how to figure how
much medication to give AND FAST or she could kill someone in an emergency
room.
3) If my student is going on to be an engineer, she better be able to turn in
her reports on time to her employer and be able to make calculations "on site"
with a short deadline.
I can continue, but I think I've made my point.
Karen
www.coolmath.com
Orange Coast College
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