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Do you do standardized tests if you don't have to?
- This topic has 6 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 1 month ago by
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I’m not required. My 4th grader has never been tested and we planned to this year. I just hate the idea of chucking out $63 and spending 3 days doing it! I think my husband would like it done, need to discuss more. I’d like her to have some practice at this for prep for future years—but was thinking about just buying the Scoring High on the ITBS student book and let her do that.
Just wondering what some of you other CM’ers do:) Thanks! Gina
No. For me it is worthless. It’s comparing your student with other students that don’t learn the same things at the same order. Just because a student doesn’t know something now, doesn’t mean he is doing poorly. For example, we don’t start grammar instruction until 6th or 7th grade. So, if one of my children were to test and do poorly in grammar doesn’t mean they are stupid it means we haven’t covered it yet. On the reverse side, if a child does really well in a certain area it could be that you might slack off more than you ought in that subject. I also don’t want to have to teach to a test. For me, that is a waste of time.
This is the first year that we have to test (we just moved to a state that requires it). I probably won’t even look at the results before I send them in. We’ve never tested before (except for the ACT and SAT) and it was a blessing!
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.
No. We don’t have to here in Texas and I’m not planning on it. Like pollysoup and art already said, we don’t cover things in the same order. I think it would create unnecessary stress.
Blessings!
Sharity
My 19yo had never had a standardized test in his life before he took the ACT. He was nervous about taking it but did VERY well the first time out. I didn’t need a test to tell me what he knew.
Thanks to each one of you! After reading your posts and talking with my husband (he said to just do what I thought was best) I feel a lot of peace. With taking a week in May for a late Spring Break I was really starting to dread the idea of having to take a week to prepare and take a test, too. Thanks so much!!! This site and you ladies are an incredible source of wisdom and encouragement:) Blessings, Gina
no, not at all. Its a whole mindset that I just don’t agree with. If I don’t teach my child to the test for a certain topic, so she doesn’t score well, does it mean she’s “behind” ? Or could it be we’ve just had the most incredible year learning about ancient biblical history, plankton, or whatever…
I find testing to usually be very arbitrary.
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