We have to test because of the state, and it’s miserable. With our oldest we used the traditional textbook method. He always did well on tests because he was learning the same things as school aged peers. But now that we use more of a CM method, it’s been terrible–the others are still very young. I think in a few years we’ll see the testing end of CM payoff, but for now it just frustrates me and them.
For example, tomorrow my first grader is finishing his testing. It’s on capitalization and punctuation. That is completely useless. He writes in all caps and wouldn’t know where to put or what a comma is. Why should he right now? But that will make him almost cry on the test, I know.
I was looking at the science portion after he finished it. There were three thermometers (medical ones) and it asked which one meant the someone was sick. One of them was below, one at and one above body temperature. Why would they ask a 7 year old that?
Then on the next page, there were three bottles, one with a smiley face, one with a sick face and one with an X or something. The question was which bottle indicated poison inside?!!! None of the above was not an answer. He chose the sick looking face. I guess I would too–What happened to the skull and cross bones? In fact, I’m thinking he might not be ready for second grade next year because of the testing-same with my 8 year old only about third grade. It stresses me out and makes me second guess what they CAN do.
No I would never test if I didn’t have to. If I wanted them to know how, I would just make up a test myself based on what I knew they had learned recently. Then they could have testing experience without the unfairness of being asked something they’ve never heard of.
Can you tell I’m opinionated? It just has been a hard few weeks of testing, so I’m in the middle of my yearly irritation about it. And my mom had surgery yesterday and I’ve had a migraine for days. Maybe I should take a nap.
