🎙️S5 E13

Standardized tests don’t measure intelligence—and for many kids, they cause lasting harm. In this powerful episode of 𝘗𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩, two experienced teachers and a school founder unpack the real impact of standardized testing in the U.S., especially in Florida.

From third-grade retention laws to high-school graduation trauma, this conversation explores how one test can overshadow years of hard work, disproportionately affect neurodivergent students, and create lifelong emotional scars. Parents will learn how to advocate for their children, understand testing alternatives, and build portfolios that reflect real learning—not just bubble sheets.

If your child struggles with test anxiety, ADHD, dyslexia, or learning differences, this episode is a must-watch.

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⏱️ 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘀

00:00 – Almost Not Graduating: A Teacher’s Personal Story With Standardized Testing

00:50 – Why This Episode Matters: Breaking the “Test Score = Intelligence” Myth

01:14 – Florida’s Third-Grade Retention Laws Explained

02:21 – Meet the Teachers: Blended Classrooms & Real Learning

03:23 – “I Was an A-B Honor Student… and Almost Didn’t Graduate”

05:11 – The Emotional Trauma Standardized Tests Create

06:38 – Academic Anxiety Starts in Kindergarten

08:44 – Suffering in Silence: Why Kids Don’t Tell Their Parents

11:56 – How Parents Can Legally Push Back on Standardized Testing (Florida)

13:19 – Why Portfolios Matter More Than Test Scores

18:50 – When 75% of a Class Fails: Student Problem or System Failure?

23:05 – What Parents Should Say to Teachers to Advocate for Their Child

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