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3. We’re sick of standardized testing and having to “teach to the test.”

You better believe it.

I have long wondered why teachers complain about this aspect of their jobs. I mean, if a kid is being tested on grammar, doesn't teaching to the test mean a child will be taught subject verb agreement, correct usage of pronouns, etc.?

I'm not trying to be snarky. I'd like a real explanation for why teaching to the test bothers teachers so much. I hear the complaint all the time.

The best subject to illustrate the 'teaching to the test' issue is with history. Let's say that the kids are being tested on American History, spanning from the mid 1600's to present. Of course you cover everything in order, making sure the kids learn it, but the test is given in early June. At some point, the teacher will feel it necessary to go back and review what was done 1st semester. Then, because they don't know what questions and dates will be asked, they review all the dates. Then review the major events, then the major people, then help the kids have a visual time line to know what was happening at the same time and how it affected the country 50 years later.

The other challenge is that all the kids take the same test, including those that are mild to moderately disabled, learning disabled, autistic, emotionally disturbed, and/or disadvantaged in a variety of ways. Schools are now up to needing close to 100% passing now (I think the goal is 88% this year) so even have 87% passing in one or more subgroups labels the entire school as failing. It's nerve-wracking.

Luckily for me, I teach reading, so that cramming session doesn't happen for me. But I do see others go through it.

As a home school mother/teacher, I never taught to the test. I didn’t have access to nor did I know what would be on the standardized tests. I taught a well rounded rigorous curriculum and my child was top of the charts every year.