Margarita Velazquez

Professor Bartlett
SED 322
24 November 2015
Annotation: Teaching Through the Test: Building Life-Changing Academic Achievement and
Critical Capacity

QUESTIONS
o What is a social justice educator? What is expected of the teacher/students?
o What strategies can incorporate into my instruction to have my students become
advocates for themselves/ issues that interest them?

REACTIONS
o I thought it was interesting that the author took the time to state her background.
She has a background in actually teaching/education, which is great because it
gives her credibility. There have been other articles that I have read on education
that I have questioned, and I wasnt surprised to see that the author didnt have a
background in education.
o I was a little confused because I thought the author was going to talk about how to
help students from low income schools, but then she goes on the advocate for
social justice instructors and how they need to show student achievement to help
show what they are doing is right.

 CONNECTIONS
o I have often been a part of discussions in various courses which mention how
disconnect there is on standardized tests. We all complain about teaching to the
test, but unfortunately that is the way things are right now, and we have to help
our students find a way to succeed and keep their identity. The example used in
the article with the Dream Act article and biannual is a pretty interesting way to
help students become prepared and keeping their interest, which embraces
teaching through the test and not to the test.
o In a unit mentioned in the article on agricultural worker injustices, they read the
book The Circuit, which I read this semester for a BLE course. I can see how the
story of Francisco and his parents would work for this type of unit, and some
students might be able to relate to this in one way or another.

RESTATEMENTS
o Academic achievement will allow students to show case their success or
demonstrate how educational systems are meant to help students who are from
higher income families/white.
o Teaching through the test instruction incorporates issues students will face, and
not just general topics of study.

APPLICATIONS

o I think it would be great to have interdisciplinary units with the History

department to have students become aware of the issues of the past, and how it
mirrors some of the issues that exist today.
o Integrating visit to museums, current issues, socratic seminars/philosophical
chairs, and debates are great ways to help students become involved as advocates
of change in the academic setting.