My son will have to take a standardized test at the end of this next year when he completes 3rd grade. I have started him on the Spectrum Test Prep books to get him prepared for taking the test. He is working on the Grade 1 book now. My problem is, he is horrible at applying himself. He will read the instructions then sit and complain that he doesn't know what to do. Then he gets all emotional and starts crying and, of course, by this time he just shuts down and stops thinking. Anyone have any ideas how to deal with this? I don't want to help him specifically with the questions because he is going to have to do it on his own when he takes the test. I explained to him how it works and have shown him the format and such. I am just concerned that he is going to get to test taking time and totally melt down. Any help on teaching him how to take the tests so that it will build his confidence and not cause a melt down would be appreciated. Thanks
Does he HAVE to take a specific test? There are tests out there that are not the fill in the bubble type ones. My son is not a "tester" normally. We did the WRAT test this year (up to this year was accepted by the PDE in our state)....We'll most likely do the Peabody test next year. These tests are given ORALLY one on one, and are not timed, they create less stress on the student but are still an accurate accounting of knowledge. I WILL have my kids sit for the IOWA test this year with our coop - just for the experience. They will NOT be the scores I use to submit to the district at all. Anyway....maybe this would help? You can check with your DOE for your state and get a list of accepted tests for your state. If you can do the WRAT...I recommend that one highly.
What about offering him some reward for every question he gets correct? Sometimes I have found 'dangling a carrot' does the trick with my kids. When that doesn't work, I just tell them they need to do whatever work is assigned, or no snack break, no playing on the computer, no playing with toys etc until it is done. I know that is the opposite approach to a reward, but sometimes my kids are just trying to be stubborn and difficult and when they see they aren't going to get away with it, they give in.
I'm going to suggest that you teach him through the grade 1 book, at like a page or two a day, then when he moves into the grade 2 book, just help him occasionally, like read the instructions for him, do one with him, and let him work the rest of the items alone. This is what they do when giving a standardized test -- read the instructions, work through examples, then the kids work on their own. Then when he gets to the grade 3 practice book, he should be familiar enough with the procedure to not panic when he sees it -- read the instructions for him, do an example or two, then he works on his own. Find out if Hewitt tests are acceptable -- they're written specifically for homeschoolers. http://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/home/hmain.asp?h=1 Or, find someone who can give the Stanford 10 -- it's untimed. OR, find someone who does individual evaluations and have them give the Woodcock-Johnson Battery (lightyears better than the WRAT which only does reading words from a list, arithmetic problems, and spelling a list of words from dictation) or the PIAT.
