My state requires that I test my children in certain grades. This year that means all three of my children still homeschooling. I hate this requirement. I know my children's strengths and weaknesses already, thank you very much. But anyway, I'll be testing my kids this year. My eighth grader gets nervous about these tests no matter what I say. So I'm tempted this year to give her some practice tests. Can anyone recommend a book that will give her help with these tests? I'm looking for something that will give her some workbook type questions not just strategies. Math is my biggest concern cuz it gives her the greatest amount of anxiety, but I'd like a book that covers all subjects because she could use some brushing up on history and science too since we don't necessarily cover the same things they are covering in public schools. TIA, Karen
IF your test has a name, like FCAT (Fl. Comprehensive Assessment Test) then you can check locally, with the library, etc. for workbooks meant to prepare one that test. Other than that, get a list of what skills are tested and such. Administer mini tests through out say, a month, that tests and retests each skill about 3 times and then show your daughter her results. Let her see that not only does she know the material, she knows it consistently and well. If she has gaps or descrepencies, begin working on them now. . Happy Testing.
We'll be doing the Iowa. I could check the library, but I want a workbook that she can write in. I would like to administer tests a little bit each day, but I'd rather not have to make up the mini-tests myself.
Thanks, Lindina. I saw Spectrum on Amazon and they didn't get the greatest reviews for what I"m looking for (workbook style). I was hoping someone here actually had experience with one. But I'll look for the McGraw-Hill books.
Test Prep Workbooks The Spectrum Test Prep Workbooks were originally published by McGrawHill. I can't stress enough that they helped my children tremendously! I have been homeschooling for 16 years. Here in Louisiana we don't have to test every year, but I used the Spectrum Workbooks to test my kids for my own purposes. When the kids were younger they actually thought that test prep was a subject. My oldest son is now 18 and will be graduating with honors this May! I'm so proud of him!!! I also believe that all those years of test preparation helped him to do so well on his ACT. He took the Act in April 2010 and scored a 25 Composite, he retested in December 2010 and scored a 26 Composite. He will be recieving a TOPS Performance Scholarship and going on to Nicholls State University this fall.
Check the library! That way you can preview the books, use the ISBN and Title of the book to order a copy of the EXACT SAME BOOK for your own private use at home, over the internet or over the phone. Or, get the scope and sequence from the books and order workbooks that match. I like Contemporaries Number Power Series for Math. Each one is done by skill set and there are no grades. They're appropriate for 5th-10th grade depending on the students abilities. Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division is the 1st book Fractions, Decimals and Percents is the 2nd Algebra is the 3rd Geometry is the 4th This way
The Spectrum workbooks for subjects aren't super, just okay, but the test prep ones give a good generic preparation for taking achievement tests up through I think 8th grade, and they're inexpensive. There are some other kinds out there that have more specific preparation for the state tests of individual states, Louisiana, Texas, Florida, and others, as well as the Iowa, Metropolitan, TerraNova, Stanford, etc. google Iowa test prep and see what turns up...
