ok, so it's that time of year...ugh. Even in PS I'm always a wreck. It doesn't help that I have to drive an hour both days to get him there. The plan is to load him up with a good breakfast on the way there. So anyway, he's in 6th grade. I've been reviewing for whats on Ohio tests. Decimals, Patterns & Variables, Number Theory & Fractions, Adding and Subtracting Fractions, Multiplying and Dividing Fractions, Ratios, Proportions & Percents, Data & Graphs, Geometry Tools, Geometry and Measurement, Integers, Probability, Equations and Inequalities....Wow..it's alot. Did I leave anything out? Is there one thing they seem to focus on more? Since he's always been in PS, I never really paid any attention to what was on the tests I know that sounds bad, but he honestly didn't need me too. They always came back well above average. But this time I'm a little nervous. He hasn't been home long, only since the end of Feb or beginning of March. So I'm fairly certain he has a good grasp of most of the concepts, but then I wonder about next year:shock: Next year, it's from day one and I'm already feeling my nerves. It's that 'WHAT IF' fear...I hope you guys can relate and I'm not the only one feeling that 'burden'. Don't get me wrong. I actually like state testing. It tells me where he is in relation to his peers. When he applies to colleges, that's what separates the 'men from the boys' so to speak. BUT...it's intimidating knowing that his education rests on whether or not Mom can get the message across. Anyone else get a little 'batty' during testing???? Or have I completely lost it???
I don't know about Ohio's testing. But here, the state tests - although they stress the kids out over it from day one of the grade - are a joke. The tests themselves are actually tough enough (the state tests are a form of the Iowa), but the scores you have to get to pass are so low it's ridiculous. I had this one kid who came to me out of ps at mid-year in 5th grade barely doing 2nd grade math. I had to spend the rest of the year teaching him how to carry and borrow. By the end of 8th grade, he scored at average for his grade level with me, and when his parents insisted last minute that he was going to go back to public for high school, he had to rush to go take the state test for 8th grade with the ps class (only English and Math required). He had no problem passing and getting back into ps for 9th grade, even though he was working "below level" in my materials. I've had other kids who were working "below level" in my materials, but passed their GED (their choice, not my recommendation) quite well on their first try. Most of the kids I've taught came to me out of public, and in the end went back to public, and had no trouble getting back in in their right grade. I have a girl right now who passed 7th grade math in public last year, passed the class and the state test (neither spectacularly, but passed), and when she enrolled with me, I had to put her in CLE 4th grade math!
Wow...yes, I don't think that for all the 'busy work' they do, they actually need all of it. The funny thing about HS is I'm realizing how much of the stuff I had to do, I never actually used! LOL So I'm basically having to refresh everything all over again. And when I went to college, the college Algebra etc...was the same as highschool. I guess I'll never understand why so much paperwork is required. But, yes, the state tests help me gage his learning. Although it's still a rather annoying process.
Why are you bothering to take the test? It isn't required for homeschooled kids. You're making too big a deal out of it! (BTW, my oldest didn't take any standardized tests, until the ACT and did exceedingly well on it. She also had to take the OGT because we switched her to a cyber-school. She went into the OGT cold...we found out on a Thursday that she would need to take it on Monday. She said it was the easiest test she's ever had, that her 5th grade brother could ace the language part!
