If I used a multilevel program for those subjects, can I just adapt the material and activities to each child or are tests important to make sure they "got" the material? Sorry, ps mindset still...
I do not bother with any tests other than Math and Spelling for elementary school. Once dd starts moving into middle school I will slowly start introducing more tests and teaching study skills. I do believe in testing in high school so they are prepared for tests in college.
Sometimes I do, but I use it more as a review. I have dd10 complete the "test" using her book. If you know what I mean. I am not testing her knowledge but just reviewing the chapter.
I don't give "tests" at all. I work closely with my kids, so I pretty much know what they do and do not know. My older two mostly complete their assignments without my help and then we go over the things they miss or don't understand together. I also don't give grades because if they miss something, we go over it again until they know it. I will mark something wrong on their paper and then have them correct it and mark it "okay". So, by the time we have gone over everything, all their papers are 100%. My oldest dd starts high school next year, so things will change a little. I will be giving her tests and formal grades for her transcript then. In elementary/middle school, I don't think tests are necessary.
NO! I want them to enjoy learning. They won't retain specific dates or events unless they are super engaged in the subject. Adding tests really doesn't have any value, IMO. If they are engaged and enjoying learning, they will retain much more than studying for a test would get them.
I too still have a very ps mindset but during a meeting with my daughters advisor, she told me that most public elementary schools do not even teach these subjects with any frequency! Ps place the most time on the subjects that are tested by the state. So really anything your kids are learning now, will be above and beyond what is taught to ps children. (I asked the same question to my daughters advisor, and she is only in 1st grade, I was already concerned that she would "fall behind" )
I don't do tests unless they're used as an oral review or an open-book worksheet. (Like, I'll orally read the questions, and we'll discuss the answers.)
True! I forgot that my 4th grader recently mentioned how they hardly ever do science. It's her favorite subject.
We use a program that's geared towards all ages. There is a test at the end of each unit, but it's definitely geared towards upper middle school. My 5th grader does NOT do the full test, my 7th grader does. I usually just have my 5th grader do the matching portion, and my 7th grader does the matching and essay portions. Other than that, I don't test on history.
No. I don't really "grade" that level at all. I will keep track of math scores, but that's about it. Now that my youngest is 6th grade (middle school), I need to start keeping more careful track of him.
I didn't give any test in elementary school. I started adding test in middle school. History is still open book.
In the interest of accountability to parents, I do use the tests that come with the curriculum, whichever one I'm using at the time, in first, second, and third grades. Mostly reading, English, and math. Mostly I sort of slide it in as "just another page to do" whenever possible. For Bible, science, and history, it depends on what kind of materials I'm using, but usually I give letter grades like S, N, U (I can't remember ever giving a U grade...) based on how well they can narrate the "high points" of the lesson, maybe how well they thought about their coloring sheet or puzzle page that went with it. Fourth grade and up, though, all get tests - but not necessarily exactly what came with the materials. I've been known to make my own tests for these 3 subjects.
Sorry....been busy all weekend....didn't mean to leave this linger! We use the Ancient Civilizations and the Bible by Diana Waring. We don't necessarily use it the way she recommends (each chapter is a unit, there are 9 units, each one runs 4 weeks and each week teaches to a different learning style). I mix it up, and we do all learning styles for 4 weeks, but all mixed together. We are loving it, actually
I would test for geography, at least the ability for knowing where the states/countries are found. Just so they could figure out which they really knew and which they didn't. I wouldn't, however, give it a grade. Otherwise for elementary science & history, until 5th grade they don't even do it with enough regularity in school for me to worry about testing for it.
I disagree that it isn't done with regularity in school until 5th grade. Some teachers do it twice or three times a week; others prefer to do units instead. So they'll concentrate on a science topic hard for two weeks, and let history slide, then hit history hard and let the science slide. The regularity IS THERE. They have a list of what exactly they need to teach, and it IS taught.
I would agree with that, but I think that when I think of regularity, I'm thinking a stream of information like going from a certain time to another (like Am. History 1500-1865) instead of topically, switching every few weeks. The same information tends to repeat very year, just getting a more and more detailed. Therefore, I feel like history and science has enough time to build a good base to build off of by starting in 7th grade doing each everyday. That is not to say we ignore the two subjects (heaven forbid! These are the fun subjects, imo!) but I am not worried about testing in them.
