Homeschool Thread (Educator)

[Mattemma]

I did IOWA testing with my kids.Ordered it through Piedmont in NC. They sent the test.I sent it back,and later we get the results.Result paper was exactly like the ones we now get from the school.With the IOWA the adult giving the test will go through each section and explain. I bet though that you can find prep tests/fake tests online for the one your kids will be using.

Me, I did the testing for K,1,2 with the kids before we switched to a private school. Just sat with them and explained,but definitely not giving any answers.I wanted to see how they did.

 

[SC-ChickMom]

What ages are your children? That may make a difference in whether or not to test them.


I really see no harm in trying the standardized tests. If anything, it will just give practice in taking tests. If you have the hope your child will go to college, they need to be able to take tests. Do you need to test them? No. Will the score effect anything in the future? No. It will teach them how to sit and answer questions in a timed setting which can help in the future.

My son is in the 6th grade. We have done tests last year and this year. We have been doing the EXPLORE test, which is like PSAT but made by the ACT people. It is geared to 8th Graders. I just spent the day before the test going over a sample question and how to color in the circles( I got this from the Explore Website). At this point I tell him the scores don't matter much. I am hoping to see an improvement this year over last year(I get the results next month). I do want him comfortable with the testing process. He will be taking SAT's in a few short years. I want him to be prepared to sit in a room full of other students without me and take the SAT and do well.

Hey guys I have a quick question. I am going to ask on several forums where I talk to homeschoolers but I would like solid imput. A homeschool group I am part of arranged for Standford achievement tests to be given at a local church for homeschoolers. My children have never had real standardized testing. I have given them placement tests for reading and math to ensure we are on track though. I am registering them for the testing as a tool for next year. My son is going into middle school and my daughter is only a grade behind so I want to make sure we are solidly on track. Is test prep necessary or does it just skew the results. I am a tad worried about how they will do simply because they are not used to this sort of testing. We don't ever do multiple choice. Everything is written answers, essay style which I think shows a better understanding but may not translate well when having to do multiple choice.

If I want to prep them for the testing a bit anyone have suggestions on texts for this. I have seen various workbooks but I am just not sure how any stack up. The one I saw specifically for the standford tests said the test prep seemed fine and the format was close to how the test was done but they were not sure on quality because their child scored poorly. How did you guys feel about them when you were homeschooled and took these. I am a touch worried my daughter will freeze up. I was consiering a book on test taking techniques to help her with that skill a bit.

 

[HeatherLynn]

I have a 4th and 5th grader. The 5th grader( age 11) I am more worried i am not challenging him enough. He will never say because frankly he is a bit of a lazy butt. My daughter is dislexic though and I think the testing might help guide me to weaknesses I might not see. She is 9 and in the 4th grade so technically because of her birthday they wanted her held back one grade for the entire 1 year she went to school. ( we slid in by just a couple days for kindergarten, they really pushed hard for preschool another year because of her small size) I didn't and probably regret it a bit because it has really been such a struggle for us both overcoming this on our own but honestly public schools do not deal with this problem so we are better off working through it together. I am doing the testing mostly to guide me to weak areas and affirm the progress we have made. It will also get my parents off my back about public school. Not enough to hear them reading out of advanced level books and speaking intelligently, we gotta have a piece of paper. I want to help them prep for this type of testing though because I want to see actual weak spots, not deficiencies in answering multiple choice rather than essay form.