Questions regarding the CAT (and standardized tests in general)

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  • April 21, 2009 at 6:35 pm
    simplicity
    Participant

    Hello all. We’re in NY and I’m preparing to use the CAT test with my two daughters for their end-of-year testing. I’m a bit nervous about their testing ability and about how well our CM methods have served them. Anyone use CM methods and use the CAT? I think both girls are a bit weak in their reading ability (according to “grade level”), so that worries me. I worry they won’t be able to read the questions well enough to answer them correctly, even if they really do know the answer. Also, we haven’t done a lot of formal language mechanics yet and I’m afraid they’ll be unable to answer those types of questions well. I’m administering the test myself, as I am allowed unless/until the public school superintendent says otherwise, which has not yet been the case. I have considered reading the questions/text to them to be sure that they at least know what the question IS (without giving away the answer), but I know that this is not suggested (and probably not encouraged) by the makers of the test. I could really use some advice and/or suggestions about what any of you who are required to test have done. By the way…this will be our first time testing. Thanks!

    Rachel H.

    April 22, 2009 at 11:19 am
    CindyS
    Participant

    Rachel,

    My view (personal opinion alert!) of testing is that it is a legal requirement that we do and think, “we’ve kept the law” and move on.

    However it’s other use is that it gives us a picture of where the child is in their learning. It is a good way to see where their strengths and weaknesses are. That way we can give big pushes in the area of their gifts and little nudges in the area of their weaknesses. Or we can make a plan. Or we can say, “well, I already knew they would be getting that in ___ grade so it really doesn’t matter” and do nothing.

    As far as what they know now (and I’m guessing that your children are a little young), it may very well show up that they are not where the ps kids are in a couple of areas but that’s because they are learning in a different way. They are also not being taught with the test in mind, as a ps teacher would. They will get it, just not yet. The flipside is that your children will know lots of things that aren’t even on the test.

    Blessings,

    Cindy

    April 23, 2009 at 4:00 am
    fivestones
    Member

    My kids took the CAT test last year. I did it for myself, not because I was required. I used it exactly as Cindy stated, to know what we were doing great at, and where we could use a little more learning. I was actually suprised to see that my children did not score well in comprhension. Only because we have been narrating for 3 years, and they do this well. Nothing else suprised me though. What my children got wrong were things that we had not touched on yet. Even with all this, they did well and scored well above their age/grade level. My son was 8 at the time and did fine with the reading parts that he was to do on his own. There was quite a bit that I was supposed to read to him. So we didn’t struggle with that at all. Hope that gives you a little insight.

    Blessings,

    Vanessa

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