Reflections on test scores

The faculty at my school is required to attend weekly TAP meetings designed to teach us better, deeper, more thoughtful lessons to reach every single student. The Master Teachers and the coursework are funded by federal or state grants.

The last lesson was about reflection of each daily lesson plan. Now that I have given and scored my first test, I am putting together some data about the success or lack thereof of the examination. How valid is the test? Too easy? Too difficult? Please be reminded that I allowed the use of notes and study cards, even the textbook during the exam process.

So let's see:
First class: highest grade is a C, 2 D's, and 15 F's. Several were absent. Since this is the noisiest, least responsive, most lethargic, most resistant class, I'm not surprised at all at the grades, especially the F's. These are the talkers, sleepers, cell phone users. Now I know:  I must put on my boot camp sergeant role and force more attentiveness, or pretense if necessary. Call a few parents. What I now know is that the noise makers are preventing the education of others. No A's or B's and only one C.

Second class: One A, 4 B's, 3 C's, 1 D, and 7 F's. Again, the low scores are made by students who refuse to participate. I let them go the first time. Now that I have more control, I feel brave enough to tackle this problem. The first thing I am going to do is re-do seating to break up the pools of cronyism.

Third class: One A, 7 B's, 3 C's, 2 D's, and 7 F's.

Fourth class: 2 A's, 2 B's, 2 C's, 1 D, and 1 F. This is my best class. The F was made by a student who is frequently absent and does not make up work.

Fifth class: 2 A's, 1 B, 2 C's, 2 D's, and 4 F's.

Sixth class: 2 A's, 4 B's, 4 C's, 3 D's, and 12 F's. This class, like the first one, has a seriously large proportion of students who do anything but pay attention.

I think my test is valid since there are A's and B's in every class except that first one.

Should one forget: I allowed the use of notes, assignments, and the text. I figured I would aid those students who took notes and did the work.