Field Experiece: MCA Testing

Today in my field placement, the students were practicing for their MCA tests that they would be taking shortly. It was hard to watch as it took almost the full two hours that i was their. No students got to work in small groups when there were 4 adults in the classroom that were there to help them, instead we had to watch and then go through and correct any wrong answers. It was hard to see so many kids struggle with these tests and even more frustrated to have to go back and correct their score sheets. And many kids didn't understand their options on the tests. Asking many questions and having to take time to explain what they were asking instead of incorporating this into a lesson. And many lost interest and would have to be reminded to keep working. I hated that they had to take all these tests. It was taking away from valuable time they got to work in small groups and get that one on one attention that they needed and looked forward to. And to see them struggle with it and have such negative attitudes about it. I feel like this isn't the answer and after going through and reading articles and books on testing I can now say I have seen it first hand and their has to be a better way to evaluate the classroom. This isn't it.