LOTS112 - EOCs During A Pandemic?

Life of the School Podcast: The Podcast for Biology Teachers

We Introduced ourselves using this goofy Question: What is the best anagram of your name? https://wordsmith.org/anagram/ Aaron: A Humane Ratio or Tea Mania Hour Ryan: Can Snarl Yo… I guess that means I’m prone to anger Tanea: They all sucked - I’ll say Neaat with 2 a’s (how about Blithe Arena or Lair Beneath) Lee: Generous Elf, Refuge en Sol What is the state of EOCs in your State and in your classroom, what are your students expected to do and how freaked out are you right now? Lee: our 9th graders are still being expected to take their EOC’s--it is a graduation requirement in TX. There is a lot of resistance statewide to even having kids take STAAR (our state exams). Our AP/IB kids are also sitting for their exams--what this will look like on my campus, I have no idea since we give over 3500 exams. IB has altered their exam format and assessed curriculum for this year while AP has not. Ryan: As of right now, state EOCs will still be administered; however, we have been told they will not be used for accountability purposes. With that being said, what is the purpose of administering them at all then? We have been off-and-on with in-person and virtual, and I’ve had students in and out of class due to quarantine, so I do not expect my students to do well. The very idea of giving EOCs after a year like this is ludicrous. Tanea: In my state it’s probably all over the place. My students are expected to do what they have done in the past. For my class, I think I’m fine. I’m done freaking out though. I’m just gonna keep the pace I’m going and try to have some fun. Aaron: In Massachusetts, our state exam required for graduation is called MCAS. Due to COVID ELA and Math are optional for grade 11 and grade 12, but required for grade 10. STEM MCAS is optional for grades 10-12, but required for grade 9. How are dealing with the EOCs during this pandemic year? How are you framing things for your students? Tanea: We are on pace and you will be okay and prepared if you come to class and stay engaged, do the work, and put in the time. But me? I’m over AP. Lee: business as usual as much as possible. We have pushed on forward since we started in August, but we are also hybrid so there’s that. We are on track to finish the curriculum by the time the AP exam rolls around in May. For my IB courses since the assessed curriculum has been altered, I’m glad that the exam is altered as well. The IB has made it possible for me to buy time to teach what WILL be assessed at a deeper level. Ryan: The classes are staying “on pace,” but that’s not to say the students are staying on pace with how much students have been quarantined. Because of the weirdness of the year, I wasn’t able to roll out some of the new things I wanted to try, such as storylining. The plan is to approach them how we’ve always approached them; by telling the students all we want is for them to try their best, but to make sure they know an EOC exam does not define them as a person. Aaron: We cut a bunch of stuff from honors biology and reorganized AP, but at the moment I’m not too stressed about EOCs at the moment. Storylining AP Biology probably has helped me a lot. I know we will address everything, but in our own way. I don’t feel behind. My AP and Honors Kids will be OK. I do wonder how this year will impact how I teach AP in 2 years. We would love feedback! DM or Tweet @lifeoftheschool and share your Thoughts? Credits: Please subscribe to Life Of The School on your podcast player of choice! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LOTS Music by: https://exmagicians.bandcamp.com/ Show Notes at Lifeoftheschool.org You can follow on twitter @lifeoftheschool