I am feeling very disappointed/fustrated today. Sd took her placement test at the local community college and did really poorly at the writting section, ok at the reading section and great on the math section. She is actually going to have to take the no credit (but you have to pay for 3 credit hours) writting class. We pulled sd out of ps in the 9th grade. I have tried to focus on writting for her but she just does not seem to get it or put effort into it. She hates writting and has only recently decided she likes to read. I just feel like I have failed her but I know that she has to put in the effort too. We did Jensen's Format writting last year and if she follows it she can write pretty well. She did very well on the essay portion of the SATs but not so great on the question/answer section. She has never done well on those types of test. I just am second guessing everything I have done with her now and have some nagging doubt about teaching dd now (even though in 1st grade she is showing signs of being able to write well). Argh..I just hate feeling like this when logically I know you can lead a horse to water but can not make it drink.
I am going to reassure you that it may have been nothing you did or didn't do, it may have been various other issues. She may have not put enough effort into it. Or, maybe she did but testing trips her up. Or, maybe they are being too picky, after all writing is a tricky thing to grade. But, MANY kids that go through public/private schools have to take non-credit classes before moving on to the credit ones. It can be a setback, but it doesn't have to be a defeating one. College may last a little longer, but in comparison to all of life--it is not that much time. I really wish they wouldn't make these tests so generic. Our children aren't all the same,but they seem to want them all to take the same tests. I tried to search for a quote I read, but I couldn't find it. It goes something like this: "They always test me on what I don't know." This is a very interesting quote that can be applied in many cases where there is a certain category of material that someone, somewhere deemed it to be THE standard to test everyone against. What a bunch of hooey. I wish all these standards and testing would go away.
Many people choke on tests. I'm definitely not an accomplished test taker. I'm sure you've done quite well, and you will continue to do well with your other daughter. Like you said; you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
Is it possible that she retake the test? If not maybe having to take a remedial English class will be helpful to her. She is going to have a long road of writing ahead of her in college. It sounds like she did great on the other parts. Celebrate that too!!
She does have issues with standardized test, always has so logicially I expected this but it is still fustrating. She has so much potential but is very lazy in her work habits. I am sure the class will reinforce all the things I have taught her but she does not bother to use most of the time. I guess the fact that she does really well occassionally with writting is what is fustrating me the most. I think she would have done better if there had been an actual writting assignment. I am sure I will feel better about it tomorrow, I just want the best for her. I know logically even if she was in ps she would not have done any better. She would have skated by in the ps and still have to take that stupid course. I do not think I would mind it so much if they did not charge for a 3 credit course but not give the students any actual credit for doing them. Thanks for listening.
Do not fall into the thinking that since you homeschool your child should be some kindof genius.... Our kids are unique with all the strengths and weaknesses of any other human. They are wonderfully made. And as mothers we will always question ourselves of if we did things right. "would'ves, should'ves and could'ves" get you nowhere! Give her (and yourself) a hug, tell her how proud you are of her and let the rest go. ((((((((((hugs))))))))))
Just to let you know, I believe a lot of people don't place great in all categories. I had to take algebra and algebra 2 again. I know someone who is very smart who had to go into the general math before that. So don't feel too bad. In my opinion the developmental classes are great for getting into the swing of things and often they are only pass/fail, so you aren't as pressured by that.
Oh I do not expect her to be a genius but I was hoping to have her skills improve a little more than they have. We have tried to focus on writting but I know writting is really not her thing. She is very good at math (even though she says she does not like it). She rocked the math portion of the test. I just am being a little hard on myself since I want to give her the best possible start.
But...have they improved? Perhaps not up to "college level" but at least better than they were when you started? Repeating someone else, we have to remember that our kids have their own strengths and weaknesses. And some people, public schooled or homeschooled, just aren't good writers, and really struggle with it.
Unless you know what is on the standardized test and how the test is formatted....you can't really judge your dd's performance or lack thereof. The test may approach the concepts quite differently than you do. That doesn't mean you are wrong. And even if she is not showing improvement...and the test of everything you teach..that doesn't mean you failed. It simply means you have more to work on in this area. I have two kids. Both are working above their grade level. However, my dd scores 60s..maybe 70s on those tests. Yet, if I give her the workbooks to prepare for the test...she literally gets 100%s! lol. My son...he is the exact opposite. Acts like the prep book are hard..lol..more like he doesn't want to do it..lol Anyway, he scores in the high 90s. His schoolwork daily is lacking...going through the donkey phase of always needing help or not finishing his work. While my daughter does excellent work daily. So, I think testing is a personality thing in some ways.
Thanks everyone! I was always a person who never had a problem with standardized test but I know she does, always has. I guess like I said I am not so much upset now that she has to take the class but pay $330+ and not get any credit. I think they should at least give them credit for their effort.
You mention that she tends to "slide" by and not apply herself. I might be inclined to have her pony up the cost of the remedial class. If she gets a good grade in it you reimburse her for it. That might help. If you think it is the test taking part...maybe she could write an essay on why she thinks she could function well in Eng. 101 (or whatever the first class that counts is) and see if she can get a waiver from the dean or professor. In college I tested into the remedial math class (actually 3 classes below College Algebra) and I just flat put my foot down and said, I am willing to pay for college Algebra and fail, but I am not willing to pay/take 3 classes that don't count. (I got an A in the class) Motivation is a powerful learning tool.
As a former professional secondary English teacher, let me reassure you that it's not at all unusual for a person to not be good at certain kinds of writing. I used to teach students who were very strong at creative writing, but who were very weak at formal writing. That didn't make them bad writers; it meant that they were stronger in one area of writing than in another. My DH is an electrical engineer...public schooled. He had to take the basic English class when he first went into college because of his low English scores; he aced the math. As others have said, we all have strengths and weaknesses. Test scores don't really equate to intelligence or ability. The basic class may be a really good thing for her in the long run in order to help shore her up in an area where she may be a little weaker.
We are not paying for college for her, she will have to do that any how. We are just paying for books. They do allow them to test out once the class begins but you still have to pay for it. If she does decide to go to this school I am interested in what her advisor will have her take for the 1st semester. It just seems strange that she will probably be taking Calculus 1 and the remedial class but that is the way it goes.
Don't feel bad, its okay for her to have more instruction if she needs it, maybe this person will figure out how to help her to "get it". My dd does awesome in all her classes but I have a feeling her writting may test low too. It is not always what we teach but how they test too,
I agree with the posts above. For many kids testing does not show their true ability. Some kids just dont do well on tests. Maybe it was just too much pressure.
You know when my ds went out to school for high school is when I learned the test thing, he scored on a 6th grade level in math, but as they put him in regular needs help class he ended up within a month being put in advanced level math for his grade because he really did know the stuff, he just didn't get the testing right. He explained the cell phone someone had was ringing, and other things that distracted his thinking, plus he did the read it over and come back to the ones that are harder thing too, we train our kids the right way but it just doesn't help every situation but what do we expect? We are not God that we can forsee the future and make things just so.
