| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
< BACK TO ARCHIVE |
| Date: From: Subject: | 2/18/2010 1:14:39 PM Home School Legal Defense Association HSLDA's Homeschooling Thru the Early Years Newsletter |
|
---------------------------------------------------------------------- HSLDA's Homeschooling Thru the Early Years Newsletter February 2010--Testing and Evaluations ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Friends, As spring approaches, many parents express concern about testing (or proof of progress), especially in states which have some sort of testing requirement. As a homeschool parent, you observe your child on a daily basis and can probably determine pretty accurately in which areas he is strong and in which areas he could use some maturity or additional help. His verbal interaction with you, his hands-on activities, written work, periodic subject-matter tests (if you use them), and his achievement of goals you have set for him are all informal indicators of his progress. For many parents, this gauge of the child's progress is sufficient to make curriculum decisions or adjustments. Other parents find it reassuring to have some sort of guidelines for academic milestones, such as Robin Sampson's "What Your Child Needs to Know When" http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7678 --with checklists for evaluating progress in language arts, math, science, and social studies (K-8th) as well as character development, or "Hewitt's Learning Objectives for Grades K-8," http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7679 with a scope and sequence checklist for various subjects per grade. However, in some states, http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7680 the law may require that you periodically demonstrate academic progress. Some states require standardized testing, while others may allow for a teacher letter or some other form of evaluation. Regardless of the legal requirement, you may want to conduct a more formal assessment for your own purposes. Let's face it--when the results come in, you often feel like those results are yours, not your child's! So how can you lessen the anxiety--for you and your student? Consider Your Options The method you choose for your child will depend upon your state's legal requirements, if applicable, and/or your family's philosophical preference. Consider also the format that will best reflect your child's true progress: While a visual learner may test well on paper, a hands-on or auditory learner may be better assessed by an evaluation or a test utilizing personal interaction, rather than a paper-and-pencil test. In that case, you might choose to administer a standardized test first, leaving time for a follow-up if the results don't match what you've witnessed in his day-to-day progress, or you may opt for an untimed test to reduce testing anxiety. The three most commonly used methods of assessment are standardized testing, http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7681 evaluations, http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7682 and portfolio submission http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7683 . Keep the Results in Perspective Think of the test or evaluation as simply a tool to assess progress, to let you know the areas in which he is doing well and the areas in which you may need some work. Maybe you overestimated his understanding of a particular subject area. As you review the results, consider the goals http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7684 you set earlier in the year. How did you do? http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7685 Are you on target or do you need to adjust the course a bit to reach the desired destination on this "journey" of home education? "The Animal School" When my children were younger, I happened across this fable by Dr. George Reavis, assistant superintendent of the Cincinnati public school system in the 1940s: ----------------------------------- Once upon a time, the animals decided they must do something heroic to meet the problems of a "new world" so they organized a school. They had adopted an activity curriculum consisting of running, climbing, swimming, and flying. To make it easier to administer the curriculum, all the animals took all the subjects. The duck was excellent in swimming--in fact, better than his instructor. But he made only passing grades in flying and was very poor in running. Since he was slow in running, he had to stay after school and also drop swimming in order to practice running. This was kept up until his webbed feet were badly worn and he was only average in swimming. But average was acceptable in school, so nobody worried about that--except the duck. The rabbit started at the top of the class in running but had a nervous breakdown because of so much makeup work in swimming. The squirrel was excellent in climbing until he developed frustration in the flying class, where his teacher made him start from the ground up instead of the treetop down. He also developed a "charlie horse" from overexertion and then got a C in climbing and D in running. The eagle was a problem child and was disciplined severely: In the climbing class, he beat all the others to the top of the tree but insisted on using his own way to get there. At the end of the year, an abnormal eel that could swim exceedingly well and also run, climb and fly a little had the highest average and was valedictorian. The prairie dogs stayed out of school and fought the tax levy because the administration would not add digging and burrowing to the curriculum. They apprenticed their children to a badger and later joined the groundhogs and gophers to start a successful private school. (Watch a video adaptation of this story here http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7686 .) ----------------------------------- Be Encouraged Remember that a test or evaluation is just one "snapshot" of his academic progress and of your child as a person. He is more than the sum of his test results! This time of year can be a wonderful reminder to thank God for this uniquely gifted child He has given you--ask Him for wisdom, and trust Him to continue to guide your choices. Blessings, Vicki Bentley HSLDA Early Years coordinator http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7204 "For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding." (Proverbs 2:6, NKJV) MORE ON TESTING "What Achievement Tests Can and Cannot Do" (Teaching Home e-newsletter) http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7687 "Seven Test Taking Skills to Teach Your Child" by Cindy Short and Sue Welch http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7688 "Evaluating Progress" by Kara Murphy http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7689 Subscribe to Kara's newsletter here http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7690 "Evaluating for Excellence" by Teresa Moon http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7691 For more information, visit the Early Years pages. http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=7692 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> How many acorns can a chipmunk hold in its cheeks? We don't know! But we do know that gathering little by little enables ordinary folks to prepare for hard times. That principle is behind HSLDA's payment plan: by paying a month at a time, families can receive an annual HSLDA membership. Meanwhile, they can feel secure as they homeschool and focus on other priorities -- their children. Don't go nuts trying to pay for membership all at once. Choose one of our convenient payment plans. More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1937 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. Box 3000 Purcellville, Virginia 20134 Phone: (540) 338-5600 Fax: (540) 338-2733 Email: info@hslda.org Web: http://www.hslda.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- How To Subscribe: - Subscribe to the HSLDA E-lert Service at our website: https://secure.hslda.org/hslda/elert/account.asp?Process=Subscribe - Or send an email with name and complete mailing address to: subscribe@hslda.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscription Information: - You subscribed to the HSLDA E-lert Service as: ##ToAddress## - To unsubscribe from the HSLDA E-lert Service send an email from the email address you want to unsubscribe to: unsubscribe@hslda.org - To change your email address or make other changes to your subscription, visit the HSLDA E-lert Service account web page at: https://secure.hslda.org/hslda/elert/account.asp ---------------------------------------------------------------------- POSTMASTERS: This message is being sent to the most recent address we have for our subscribers. If this is an invalid email address or you have other problems, please reply to webmaster@hslda.org. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: This is considered a private and confidential message from HSLDA to its bonafide HSLDA E-lert Service subscribers. HSLDA cannot attest to the authenticity of copies posted, forwarded, or sent by any party other than HSLDA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: Please do not reply or otherwise use this email address; hslda@hslda.org is for broadcast purposes only and is not intended to receive incoming messages. We cannot reply to any email sent to this address. If you have comments or questions, please send email to info@hslda.org or call HSLDA at 540-338-5600. HSLDA members can also email staff directly through the Members website at http://members.hslda.org/contact.asp. Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
