standardized test worries

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  • February 21, 2010 at 3:37 am
    art
    Participant

    I was wondering from those of you who have to administer standardized tests, do you worry about the score? I can’t help but worry. I have a 16 year old senior that we used textbooks with until a few years ago-and then we still did for math and sci. He seems to have always known everything. He always got in the 99th percentile for years, and he got a 28 on the ACT this year. 

    Now the younger 3 kids are 11, 8, and 7. They don’t seem to know anything! I know it could be just that my older son was ready sooner, but he says they need a textbook once in a while. He actually says he prefers them-but he has always been a voracious reader too.

    I’ve heard that CM users score lower on tests in early years, and then it gets better. Is that what I’m experiencing? Or what I’m about to experience-we started the tests just this week. I’m testing two of the kids a year below grade level, and I’m still worried. 

    We didn’t have to test last year because of living out of state, and I’m fairly new to CM even though I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. It’s hard to trust waiting on things like grammar for example, and I’m feeling like I’m leaving out things when I see the questions on the tests. How silly. I’ve always been against teaching to a test, but the kids they are compared to are taught that way. 

    Well there’s the thing, comparing is wrong.

    Sorry for being so scatter brained-I’ve had a migraine all week.

    Any words of comfort?

    Angela

     

    February 21, 2010 at 5:48 am
    my3boys
    Participant

     

    We do standarized testing as well. 

    I have an 11yo son who had to do STAR testing in the Spring of our first year hsing (2nd grade), he did just okay.  I know where he struggles and knew what the tests would reveal.  And, I was right.  But, I just used it as a tool.  I reminded him that he just needs to do his best.  Not everyone tests well, written or oral.  He is such a hands on learner and puts great effort in a pottery class he is in and he loves karate. To see him grow academically has been my greatest reward.  To see him choose reading as a past-time has been a such a blessing and a relief.  I didn’t think that would ever come to pass.  Now we read together alot or he will just decide he wants to read for awhile, and I let him. And, he loves the library:)

    Now, my 71/2 yo won’t test until Spring of 2011 and I’m not near as concerned with him.  He reads well and never stops asking questions and enjoys textbook work.  Plus, it’s just a tool and we’ve never been spoken to by anyone regarding my oldest boy’s test results.  Also, while kids are in ps, they’re all in and around the same subject  and same pace, give or take. But hschoolers are just not at the same pace and definitely not the same subject at the same time, that’s just the  way it goes.  With that said, I just can’t worry anymore and get frustrated, it makes hsing miserable and probably worse than if my kids were just in ps.  When I do start to worry and compare I know I make being home the last place where my kids want to be, so I’m trying to do better by them in that area:)

     Unfortunately, they don’t test the character and integrity of a person. If they did, I know my boys would be off the charts!!   

    February 21, 2010 at 12:44 pm
    Bookworm
    Participant

    I have to test also.  I do have to report the scores, and if they fall below a certain level I have to come up with an educational plan to remedy it, or put them into public school.  (Funny, if a kid does poorly while in public school, nobody makes them come up with a plan or else homeschool.  🙂  Fortunately the level is so low that it’s never been an issue here. 

    But yes, I’ve definitely seen the pattern you describe–scoring lower in younger years, then about 12 or so, something seems to “kick in” and my kids have suddenly started doing much better.  Both my older boys are very, very consistent now, scoring at about the same level on everything, where they were both much more uneven earlier.  I don’t have a good explanation for this but have just assumed that some cognitive skill somewhere just “gelled” about then and they were able to tie together what they knew before but weren’t able to express as well. 

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