SPG Passport to Free Weekends
 

Hilarious. :-:

Hyatt Regency Cambridge today through Sunday - conference hotel room rate was about $200 per night and still managed to sell out. I'm staying elsewhere (and within my travel budget) so I don't end up subsidizing the work-related trip.

It's the Element Vintage Park. Too bad that's about an hour away from me.

That still sounds like standardized testing to me.

No, because the state wouldn't be setting the test. As it is right now, every teacher has to take time out of their regular teaching to make sure the basics of a very generalized test are met.

With end-of-course exams that are district set, the tests would be more about the subject being taught, giving teachers the ability to actually teach their subject thoroughly. Also, the teachers would be in on the discussion on what's in the tests.

I was going to say, once I found out it was TX I was hoping it was IAH since we have such a large contingent there!

Are there any DFW Boxers? I can't think of any off the top of my head, but forgive me if I'm forgetting one. :confused:

Another thought from my ADHD-addled mind - I was itching last night at the Crowne Plaza Danvers, MA and thought it was the soap (there is indeed one commercial brand where I am allergic). This morning, I found a nice clump of pet hair ...

But if the tests vary so much how do you verify that the coursework is meeting the defined parameters at the federal level? It is a catch-22.

In other news, the BD/Wyndham points are posting. You need to search your account for February-March to see the details. Mine are all wrong but I'm not going to waste energy fighting it.

It's actually very simple, the parameters at the federal level are generalized. So, for math it would be "students have an understanding of Algebra I". Or you can be slightly more specific, "students must understand the quadratic equation".

There's no catch-22, there's just a necessary simplicity to what the federal standards are.

Right now the tests look at specific questions to figure out if a kid knows how to do a specific thing, rather than an understanding of a subject.

Glad those have started - checked my account about a half hour ago (and again just now) with nothing as of yet. Those miles and my 7 UA flights this week will definitely help my balance.

Ah, but therein lies the problem. You used "simplicity" and Federal" in the same sentence. :eek:

good morning box

That's worth a comped stay.

:p

The state seems to have that problem as well. The TAKS test (standardized test for Texas) has become so convoluted and so relied upon for everything that it overshadows everything else.