Hello everyone! I am curious what you all think about standardized or state testing. My kids are young, but I still want to have some idea of where they stand with other students there age. Also, I want to have a plan moving forward of what we as a family are going to do. Thank you for your input!
I have always given an annual achievement test -- just because it feels so good to see the progress documented by something other than just my eye! Now that I'm schooling Other People's Kids, I feel it helps me stay accountable to the kids' parents, in addition to the regular report card. There are lots of places you can get achievement tests: BJU, Christian Liberty, Hewitt Homeschool, Seton, and private testing services as well. The best thing to do is find one test/one service and stick with it, so that the results will be easily comparable from year to year. If you use Iowa one year, Stanford the next, CAT the next, etc., you'll never know if a jump is really a jump or whether it's just the differences between tests. The biggest thing to remember is that an achievement test result is simply a snapshot of your child's performance on certain specific tasks on a specific day. You'll get a better picture of progress by comparing one child's results to his/her own results over a period of years. And don't give an achievement test more often than annually, or the results could show wonky results simply because of "the practice effect".
I haven't done any so far, but I plan to do standardized testing this year. I think it is good for record keeping and accountability if nothing else.
We are required by our state to test every year, but I would do that regardless of requirements. I agree with your reasons for testing. I want to know where my children are in the major subjects so that I can identify any weaknesses and adjust my curriculum accordingly. Another reason I want to test them is so that they can develop proficiency in test taking skills. College admissions and many professions require taking standardized tests. The better a child can score on standardized tests, the more opportunities are open to him in life. We have used the CAT/5 complete battery which I think is very thorough. There are a lot of different tests available which are also good quality. Some people argue that they are against testing because they don't think the world should decide what their children should know when. I would say on the other hand, I want my kids to know the general information and have the basic skillls the world thinks are important because I want them to be able to function well in the world in whatever career or pursuits God calls them to do.
We don't do standardized test because it is not required in Fl. We do the Brigance test each year, for my own knowledge of where my dd's grade level is in each area. We don't have to send in results, just a signed from from a certified teacher that she advanced. If you don't know what it is, here is some info: http://www.ehow.com/about_5448140_brigance-test-basic-skills.html
Thank you all for your advice. Lindina - thank you for your practical advice. I really didnt know what to do with standardized testing. Noting how consistency is important and the "practice effect" were very insghtful. Thank you for helping.
In Ohio, you can either do standardized testing or portfolio evaluation. We've always done portfolio. A standardized test only tests where a child is IN RELATIONSHIIP TO OTHER KIDS OF HER OWN AGE/GRADE. I really don't care to know how well my children do in comparison to others. They are making progress AT THEIR INDIVIDUAL LEVEL; that's all I need to know. BTW, Rachael took the ACT test this past year because she needs them to get into college. She get 31, placing in the 97%, so the fact that she's never taken a standardized test before didn't make any difference!
In NY you need to start testing in either 4th or 5th grade and then do it every other year until 9th (then it is every year). We used the Stanford test with sd. That is the test our district used to provide for hsers (they have stopped doing that now) and is one of the ones our Homeschool group offers. When dd is old enough that is what we will use for her too. We order ours from BJU. NYS only requires kids to be above the 33 percentile so as long as they do that over all it is no big thing around here. Sd did also take the SAT for college admission two years ago.
We don't have to test until the end of 3rd grade. I'm not sure if I will test more than required by my state (3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th) or not. For one I'm thinking I don't really see the point-I know what my kids can and can't do. But, I'm thinking maybe test him at the end of 1st and 2nd so he knows what to expect at the end of 3rd? Or I could spout of his test scores to the naysayers LOL
