Blog # 6 Behavior Problems and ARMT testing, Boy What a week!

This week’s blog concerns behavior problems and taking the Alabama, Reading, and Math Tests (ARMT). As I watch my special needs students try to take the ARMT test, I notice that they are very agitated; usually they will speak in low tones and act normal, as in talking to themselves, or pantomiming with an imaginary friend. We have been practicing taking the ARMT test for several weeks now, to get them familiar with the testing procedures.

ARMT tests are supposed to give teachers and state officials the annual yearly progress (AYP) of students. This also helps to tell us teachers how well we have taught our students, however it does not tell us what happens to our students who have behavior problems. This is not part of the ARMT testing. My question is: “How well will special needs students do on these ARMT test? Does it affect their behavior?”

I have witnessed these special students trying to sit still during these tests. They try so hard, but they do not understand what we want them to do. Their minds cannot relate facts or how to answer the open-ended questions. My Autism student looks at me like: “What am I suppose to be doing?” He is very good at math problems, but when it comes to explaining how he got his answers, he just sits there. He does not want to skip the question, so we sit for about five minutes without answering the question. We finally get him to write down something, so he will go to the next question.

Why does the state make special needs students take these test? It really distracts them from their normal routine and is very hard for them to get back on task. To me, it seems like we are punishing them. By making them take the test. We push them harder than regular education students because if we let up they will not retain any of the learning strategies which we have taught them. This non-structured routine during the week and a half can lead to behavior problems for the remainder of the year. The following week after the ARMT tests have been difficult keeping the student with Autism on task.

Behavior problems happen with all of our students at times, but we have more behavior problems with some of our special needs students. We have students who have been diagnosed with manic depressive disorder and Bi-Polar and Schizophrenic disorders. There are also general education students who have behavior problems because they have not been taught to behave in class. Today’s children are not as disciplined at home enough. This responsibility is left up to the teachers. If we try to discipline them such as paddle them, then their parents sign the “no paddle list.” So how are we supposed to handle behavior problems at school? I know we should give positive reinforcement when we can, but how do you give positive reinforcement when a student continually gets into fights.

Behavior problems are a daily occurrence especially in special education but also in the general education population. Some of the behavior problems include not listening, taking care of other’s business, tattling, accusing others of cheating, not following directions, and continually talking, and not completing their work. This makes the general education hold back the general education students to keep the special education students together. This is hurting her general education students by not challenging them. They sit in class and then they have behavior problems because they are bored and finish their work early.

As I sit in the general education classroom and observe my special education students interaction with the general population, I notice a lot of movement, students talking, and this is very distracting for everyone. I really cannot explain why today is different from any other day except that yesterday we finished the ARMT test.  All of the teachers have noticed the difference in the students today, they are more prone to be disruptive and do not want to complete their work.

Here are a couple of websites which have great information about behavior problems. http://specialchildren.about.com/od/behavioranddiscipline/qt/stopbehavior.htm Five ways to stop school behavior problems for parents.

Here is a website that gives 8 tips to prepare students for high-stakes tests: http://www.state.ky.us/agencies/behave/academic/testtips.html. I wished that I would have known about this website before my students took the ARMT test. It has some great tips. I used part of them before the test by practicing it.

The following video is one I believe you will enjoy. Think about the questions at the end and what your answers would be.