Science department teacher Roenessa Witcher looks at a book in Room 346 on Dec. 12. Witcher discussed her student’s anxiety surrounding the upcoming End of Course (EOC) assessment that Biology I students will be taking on Dec. 13. “(The students have) done all of their work, and now they’re begging for extra credit because they don’t want a grade under 75 on their transcript,” Witcher said. “I try to calm them down and be like, ‘You’ll be fine. As long as you do what I asked you to do, you’ll be fine.’ As long as they do the review material, as long as they participate in the stations, as long as they continue doing what they’ve been doing all semester: going home and studying and rewriting their notes, they’ll be fine.” Photo by Daniel Cruz
Biology I students will take an End of Course (EOC) assessment on Dec. 13, which is worth 20% of their final grade in the class.
Freshmen taking Biology I this semester will be taking an End of Course assessment (EOC) on Dec. 13. This will be worth 20% of their final grade in the class.
Science department teacher Roenessa Witcher, who teaches Biology I, wants her students to do well on the EOCs but doesn’t feel that the high-stakes tests should be required because of their impact on students’ grades.
“If you didn’t do well in the class, nine times out of 10, you’re not going to do well on the EOC. This is my 11th year teaching, and my students who go into the EOC with an 80% or higher are my guarantees. Those are the ones I know are gonna pass the EOC,” Witcher said. “I’ve seen students who go into the EOC with a 75, and then they make a 60, and their grade drops down to a 70. They’re fighting to keep their head above water.”
“ If you didn’t do well in the class, nine times out of 10, you’re not going to do well on the EOC. I’ve seen students who go into the EOC with a 75, and then they make a 60, and their grade drops down to a 70. They’re fighting to keep their head above water.”
— Roenessa Witcher,
Science department teacher
Witcher sympathizes with students who don’t do well on the EOCs, especially those who don’t test well.
“(The EOC) can be detrimental to (students) and not every student does well with testing. I was one of those students. I still am one of those students. I absolutely hate taking tests,” Witcher said. “With (a) test, it’s either you know it or you don’t. Either you get the question right or wrong. So, it kind of sucks for those who don’t have (a) strong testing background (or) mentality.”
Science department teacher Roenessa Witcher points to several posters in Room 346 at CCHS on Dec. 12. Biology I student Fin Sleppy, a freshman, expressed her anxiety regarding the upcoming EOC and how she studies for it. “I’m a little bit nervous (for the EOC) because Biology is definitely not my strongest subject. We do have a good studying program, and we’re able to have all the resources we need to study for (the EOC.) I just don’t know about my abilities,” Sleepy said. “(My friends and I) go through the different units that we’ve gone through and play Quizlet games and stuff like that.” Photo by Daniel Cruz
Biology I Advanced student Finn Sleppy, a freshman, is nervous about the upcoming assessment. She also believes that the EOCs shouldn’t be required because they can make students feel invalidated in their work over the semester.
“I’m a little bit nervous (for the EOC) because Biology is definitely not my strongest subject. We do have a good studying program, and we’re able to have all the resources we need to study for (the EOC.) I just don’t know about my abilities,” Sleepy said. “I feel like standardized testing, in general, is a very stressful thing for all students to go through. So, when we have to do them, it sometimes makes us feel like the work that we put into (the class) isn’t worth it.”
