Testing

After lots of research and speaking with fellow home schooling mommas, I decided to go with the IOWA test. I really liked how comprehensive it was (testing all areas.)

First up was Audrey. Goodness. It is very apparent that she's got testing anxiety. She was so, so nervous about getting an answer wrong. She would think out loud and pretty much convince herself that more than one answer could be correct (reading test.) I just kept reassuring her, all the while thanking GOD she didn't have to deal with SOLs again. Once she got through the first 8 or so questions, it was smooth sailing.

We took about 2 weeks to complete all the testing. Some days we'd do just 1 section, sometimes 2. There were days we didn't test at all, opting instead to go canoeing or on a field trip :)

I see posts from friends (teachers & moms) about entering SOL time. The stress, the pressure...It's ridiculous. I know first hand that there are SO MANY teachers who try and make testing fun for the kids. They buy special treats, write encouraging messages, provide a ton of emotional support, etc. And for the most part I think the kids do just fine. It's the teachers I feel bad for. They're given children who are at all different stages and levels of learning, yet they're all expected to pass the same exact test. They lose sleep. They put 110% into every single child, every single day. They hold their breaths as scores roll in.

I'm totally thinking out loud here...but what if we moved standardized testing to the beginning of the year? It would be better used as a tool to tailor instruction. For me, that is the only thing testing should be used for. No pressure, just gathering info that will actually HELP the child (imagine that!)

Rant over...for now.

I definitely appreciate the more relaxed approach to testing. Breaking it up into manageable chunks. Thinking out loud if they needed to. Letting them go play as soon as they were finished (not having to wait on classmates.)

I know that one day they will have to sit down and take their SATs and it will be completely different. But right now they are children, and that is how they will be treated (and tested!)