Testing and Record Keeping Questions

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  • July 23, 2011 at 11:31 pm
    Becks
    Member

    I had posted this elsewhere, but it was pointed out that I could start my own thread with a more applicable title.  So here goes. 

    I have some testing and Record keeping questions.  My kids are 8,7,5 and 2yrs.  They’ll be doing 3rd, 2nd, kinder and potty training 🙂 this year respectively.  So… I feel a bit late in asking this since my oldest is already 8, but just this year I’ve decided I want to start keeping records for them.  Here are my questions.

    For those that do the portfolio method…How do you make/keep a portfolio of each child’s work?  Are all topics and areas included in the portfolio?  Do you include tests and test scores as well?  How  do you store them?  Do you put it all in a 3 ring binder? I like the portfolio idea and don’t have access to standardized testing this year anyway. I just don’t know what all is included.  Do folks use any fun ideas when it comes to keeping porfolios?  Can it be like a fun scrapbook-type thing that the kids could keep as a keepsake later? Ideas, ideas please!

    For those that don’t use a portfolio method… What do you use for testing your child? What computer program or other record keeping method do you use to keep it all organized? 

    Thanks for your help!

    July 23, 2011 at 11:44 pm
    Tristan
    Participant

    I’ll jump in!  I’ve kept portfolios for my oldest now for several years (she’s heading into 5th), and last year also kept one for my 5yo and 4yo (who work on the same level) just for fun and memories.  I did an entire post about how we keep a portfolio with photos to show what ended up in my oldest’s, so read that HERE.  I love keeping a portfolio and it meets one reporting option in Ohio. 

    This year we also did standardized testing just for the experience.  Each state’s law is different, so check yours.  What I did was order the CAT Survey from Family Learning Organization who is considered the administrator of the test.  I give the test to the child as the proctor (they consider any parent legally qualified to homeschool in their state to be legally qualified as a proctor).  I mailed back the test pages and answer sheet and they mailed back my daughter’s scores.  You can order these ANY time of year.  Again, I posted about it with links to the F.L.O. and so on HERE.

    Hope those give you a starting place for ideas!

    July 24, 2011 at 10:12 pm
    Becks
    Member

    Tristan,

    Thanks for your reply!  I’m interested in how you made the Workboxes system work for your family. I’ve tried it too, but the boxes didn’t work for me for the same reason.  My 2 year old likes to get into them!  I like the crate idea, but did your kids have the velcro numbers that they’d put on their chart when finished?  I like to combine subjects too, so I’m just wondering how you did that and still used the workbox system.  I was finding it took me too much time to fill ALL those boxes with different things each day.

    I appreciate your link to the FLO website for testing.  They look more accomodating than another testing service I’ve attempted to get answers from.  Did you like the CAT Survey or would you go with the more detailed CAT test in the future?  Just curious.  Part of me thinks if they cost the same maybe get the more detailed one.  But I’m not sure on that.

    Thanks again for chiming in on this one.  I really appreciated your blog.  Very helpful.

    Becks

    July 25, 2011 at 12:16 am
    Tristan
    Participant

    Nope, in our final workbox design the kids do NOT use velcro numbers.  Each hanging file folder has the subject as the tab and they work from front to back.  At the back is a folder called “Mom Check” where they put all finished work.  All our family subjects go in MY crate.  We work together and then everyone breaks up around the table for their own folders, with me helping as needed.  Or we reverse it and do individual work first then family work.

    No, I wouldn’t do the longer testing with young children, 20 questions times 10 sections is still quite a long test (we broke it up over several days).  The most eye-opening part of the test for me was really seeing my child’s learning in action – how she needed to read things aloud to check that it was correct, how she attacked problems and what wording stumped her a bit. 

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