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| Date: From: Subject: | 2/21/2013 10:54:22 AM Vicki Bentely--HSLDA Toddlers to Tweens--Testing Basics |
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- HSLDA's Homeschooling Toddlers to Tweens Newsletter February 2013--Testing Basics ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Toddlers to Tweens newsletter February 2013 Testing Basics At this time of year, many parents are thinking about how to assess their children's progress. It's important first of all to understand your own state's testing requirements, if there are any. http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=17275 In some states the law may require that you periodically demonstrate academic progress. Some statutes mandate standardized testing, while others may allow for a teacher letter or some other form of evaluation. Even if your state's law does not dictate testing, you may want to conduct a more formal assessment for your own purposes, whether end-of-year proof of progress or baseline testing when removing a child from a conventional school setting. Consider Your Options The method you choose for your child will depend upon your state's legal requirements, http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=17275 if applicable, as well as your family's philosophical preference. Consider also the format that will best reflect your child's true progress: While a visual learner http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=17276 may test well on paper, a hands-on or auditory learner http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=17277 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. Choose a Test Standardized tests are developed by commercial test publishers to provide a snapshot of the academic skills and abilities of a large sampling of students of the same grade level; examples include the Stanford, Iowa Test of Basic Skills, California Achievement Test, and Terra Nova, to name a few. While we often think that standardized tests indicate how our child compares academically to grade-level expectations, they actually indicate how our child compares academically to other kids at his grade level who took the same test on a given date (the norming date for the specific edition of the test). Links to commonly used standardized tests. http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=17278 Which test is best? http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=17279 If you need additional help choosing the test that might be most appropriate for your needs, members may call our education consultants for guidance. Know the Requirements and Deadlines If your state's laws or regulations require testing or assessments, pay close attention to the details of those requirements; various aspects of testing and assessment are handled differently from state to state. If there are any deadlines, keep in mind that ordering a test may take some time, administering it will take some time, and getting the results back will take some time. Know which scores are required by your state and in what format they should be reported. Plan ahead so you aren't caught by surprise. 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? Prepare Your Student The test will have questions ranging from below the testing grade level to well above grade level, so it is important for your child to understand that you do not expect him to know all the answers. Otherwise, he may panic when he encounters material with which he is not familiar. As parents, we must remember that if and when we test our children in everyday studies, we do it to check that they have learned all the material presented and we expect (hope for?) a score of 100. Consequently, it is critical that the child understands that we don't expect him to know all the answers on this test, but we simply want to find out how many he does know, that some of them are--deliberately--too hard for him, and he should just do his best. If a timed test is too stressful for your child, consider an untimed test, such as the Stanford 10, or another method of assessment (if possible). Keep the Results in Perspective 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--and to trust Him to continue to guide your choices and approaches. Blessings, Vicki Bentley HSLDA Toddlers to Tweens consultant More testing resources: > "Testing, Evaluations, and Portfolios" http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=17280 > Test preparation materials and practice tests http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=17281 > "Where Do You Start?" (Placement tests and other diagnostic tools) http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=17282 > Which test is best? http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=17283 > Commonly used tests http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=17284 > Test-taking skills http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=17285 > Checklist for testing day http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=17286 > How to interpret the test scores http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=17287 > What Your Child Needs to Know When by Robin Sampson http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=17293 > "They're Learning!" by Rachel Ramey http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=17288 > More articles and resources http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=17289 If in doubt about testing requirements for your state, check your state statute at http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=17275 . Members are always welcome to contact the HSLDA legal staff for legal clarification or the HSLDA education consultants for practical help. The test that matters most: "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?" 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV 1984) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Can you look at the clouds and tell the direction of the wind? An interesting phenomenon of wind is that it can blow in multiple directions at the same time, at different heights from the ground. But usually there is a prevailing wind. HSLDA watches the gusts and monitors the prevailing trends of change in the legal climate of home education. So no matter which way the wind is blowing, we're there to protect your family. 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