51爆料

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How Does Standardized Testing Affect Teaching Quality?
The Common Core State Standards Initiative has changed the course of education in the United States, particularly with its emphasis on standardized testing. But how does standardized testing affect teaching quality? Keep reading to find out.

Introduced in the early 2000s, the Common Core State Standards Initiative is designed to ensure that students across the country receive a similar quality of education. The initiative set specific standards for what students should know at the end of each grade with the goal of making sure that every student has an equal opportunity to attend college after high school.

Since its introduction, the Common Core State Standards Initiative has encountered a great deal of controversy. In some ways, it may benefit students to have a more structured education, regardless of where they go to school. In other ways, however, the standards don鈥檛 always work for every school or every student. One of the biggest problems with the initiative, however, is its emphasis on standardized testing.

As one of the major tenants of the Common Core State Standards Initiative, standardized testing has a significant impact on the nation鈥檚 educational system. Keep reading to learn more about how standardized testing affects teachers and teaching quality.

This video provides an evidence-based overview of some issues associated with standardized testing.

What is the Deal with Standardized Testing?

According to the Common Core website, the Common Core State Standards Initiative is, 鈥渁 set of high-quality academic standards in mathematical and English language arts/literacy鈥 that was created to ensure that 鈥渁ll students graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career,

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An In-Depth Look at Common Core 鈥 What鈥檚 Working and What Isn鈥檛?

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An In-Depth Look at Common Core 鈥 What鈥檚 Working and What Isn鈥檛?
The Common Core State Standards Initiative, more commonly referred to simply as 鈥淐ommon Core鈥, was introduced to help American students graduate from high school better prepared for career and college. But what exactly are these "common core" standards, and are they working?

If you attended a public school in the United States, you have probably taken a standardized test at some point 鈥 probably a lot of them. Testing is one of the most common ways to evaluate the efficacy of an education program, though it may not always be the best way. One of the most well-known education programs that makes heavy use of testing is the .

The Common Core State Standards Initiative, more commonly referred to simply as 鈥淐ommon Core鈥, was introduced in the early 2000s, though many people still have a poor understanding of what it is and how it has affected the nation鈥檚 school systems. This system has been in place for half a decade and yet the jury is still out on whether it works or not.

Whether you have detailed knowledge of what鈥檚 going on in the nation鈥檚 education system or not, you are probably aware that the most recent presidential election has led to some big changes. Keep reading to learn about the history of common core, its future, and whether or not it really works.

This video offers an explanation of Common Core.

A History of Common Core

According to the (CCSSO), the Common Core State Standards Initiative is, 鈥渁 set of high-quality academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy,鈥 also known

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Tips For Easing Test Anxiety

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Tips For Easing Test Anxiety
Even the smartest of students can sometimes perform poorly on tests when they become anxious. Keep reading to learn how to ease test anxiety in public school students.

If your student attends public school, you are undoubtedly familiar with standardized testing. Standardized testing is designed to determine the effectiveness of a school鈥檚 curriculum and teaching staff as well as the degree to which students understand core concepts.

Many schools engage in standardized testing once a year or more in grades 3 through 8, focusing particularly on subjects like math, science, and language arts. Though these tests are partially designed to measure the effectiveness of a school program, they are also used to determine funding for public schools 鈥 this puts a lot of pressure on schools to ensure that their students perform well.

With so much riding on these tests, it is no wonder that many students develop test anxiety. Anxiety over testing can turn even the smartest, most intelligent student into an F student. But what is text anxiety and how do you deal with it? Keep reading to find out.

What is Test Anxiety?

According to the , test anxiety is a psychological condition in which students experience extreme distress before, during, and/or after a test or exam. This level of stress makes it difficult for the student to do their best work 鈥 it even causes some students to freeze up entirely and to forget everything they鈥檝e learned. As many as 20% of school children have severe test anxiety and another 18% have a more moderate form of the condition. Understanding what test anxiety is and how

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10 Top Study Tips for High School Students Preparing for College

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10 Top Study Tips for High School Students Preparing for College
Are you preparing to make the transition from high school to college? Many things are going to change for you in the coming years, so prepare for them academically by learning strong study skills now that you can apply during your college years.

Preparing for college can be nerve-wracking for a high school student, even if you鈥檝e already been accepted by a school. During that final year of high school, it may be difficult to concentrate on academics, but you want to show your college that you aren鈥檛 slacking off just because you鈥檝e already been accepted. It is always important to do your best.

This video offers a step-by-step plan to help you organize your week.

As you prepare for college, not only should you be keeping up with your schoolwork, but you should take some time to evaluate your study habits to see if you are properly prepared for college. In this article, you鈥檒l receive the top ten study tips to get you ready for the transition into college.

How Much Studying Do College Students Do?

According to a national study, the average full-time college student spends about 15 hours per week studying. Of course, the number of hours a student spends studying doesn鈥檛 necessarily correlate with their level of academic success. For example, students who studied an average of 20 hours per week or more were not always fully prepared for class, according to the results of a campus-wide student engagement survey. The amount of time students spend studying may also depend on their major and their class load. For example, senior engineering students reported 19 hours of study per week while students in the

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Gap Year: Points to Consider and How to Do It Right

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Gap Year: Points to Consider and How to Do It Right
Though many students move straight into college after high school, there is some benefit to taking a "gap year". Keep reading to learn what a gap year is and how it might benefit you.

Every year, millions of high school students graduate and move on to attend college or university. So many students follow this path that it has almost become an expectation for high schoolers to move immediately on to college after graduation. Of those millions upon millions of high school graduates, however, some don鈥檛 follow tradition 鈥 some take a year off between high school and college. This is called a gap year.

What exactly is a gap year, and what are the potential benefits? In this article, you鈥檒l receive an overview of what a gap year is and the associated pros and cons. You鈥檒l also receive tips for making the most of your gap year, should you choose to take one.

This TED Talk explains the benefit of taking a gap year.

What is a Gap Year?

Though many high school graduates move immediately to college in the fall after graduation, many students do not. The term 鈥済ap year鈥 refers to the year off some students take between graduating high school and college. There are many reasons why a student might take a gap year. For many, a gap year is a time to work and save money to pay for tuition, lodging, and supplies while attending college. For others, it is something unexpected 鈥 an unplanned setback caused by an injury or significant life event.

Gap years first became standard practice in the United

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