Oh, those little four letters and how they sometimes strike panic, debate, anger, and a whole host of other emotions into parents and educational staff. Very few times however do we hear cheering the WASL and it's by-product, the GLE (grade level expectations). I find it somewhat ironic that we begin with the WASL and work our way to the GLEs.
I began teaching in 1994, when the educational establishment in Olympia was just forming this work . . . so I've seen it evolve into what it is, including the NCLB requirements.
Get ready for this folks . . . I like it.
Whoa.
Yes. Seriously.
Let me explain why quickly: a) we now have common expectations of what students need to be learning and what those expectations are. If we should use the expecations in our day to day teaching, we shouldn't fear the WASL. b) the WASL holds us accountable. When I started teaching, there wasn't accountability. People don't like a microscope because it points out flaws, but we need analysis of our current practices and systems if we ever want to improve. Private business has this down to a science, but education is much too far behind when it comes to looking at why some schools fail and others don't.
Here's to a good couple of weeks :)
-Mr. Bowman
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