Our schools are evaluated using state test scores. One of our biggest concerns is how can we as teachers make the state tests more important to the students taking them. Last night in class, Daggit's "Three R's" were discussed. These three principles seem to be as effective as any I've heard on making the tests more important to the students.
1. Rigorous - make school work challenging
2. Relevant - teach what the students need to know, why it is important, and why they need to know it.
3. Relationships - build individual relationships with students based on trust and mutual respect.
Teachers can use these three principles with their students to attempt to make state tests more important to the students taking them.