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I am curious if anyone is using the Science tests in the Geography Guide? They aren't scheduled and I am also curious why they aren't scheduled. I'd love to hear Carrie's take on this since I value her opinion so highly. I would like my daughter to have some more practice with test taking. Has anyone else used the tests, and if so, how have you scheduled them into your days?

I have used the physics booklets with my son, and I am currently using the entire series with my daughter. We used the quizzes and the tests. My children just took a quiz after every 5 sections, and they took the test after all 15 sections (1 booklet with the corresponding three quizzes.) She reads a section every day and then also studies and takes the quiz on the 5th, 10th, and 15th days, so those days are longer. On the 15th day, she also studies the three quizzes and takes the test. This takes some extra time, but not much, because by that point she really has the material down. She can also wait and do that on a Saturday If she wishes. It makes for pretty easy grade keeping. I am not sure how Carrie schedules it as I do not have the geography guide yet. I am saving that so that three of my children can do the guide together in 2 years (then 8th grade, 9th grade, and 12th grade).

Tiffini,

This is a good question. In doing all 12 chapters of IPC in one year, rather than spreading it over 2 years doing 6 chapters a year as the publisher suggests, the students already have a very full year in science. In addition we've added 35 labs to the science program to make it worthy of lab credit. With balance being very important, the tests and quizzes were the least necessary part of the science program. This is why they are not scheduled within our guide.

The kiddos do take quite a few tests and quizzes in Art of Argument in the World Geography guide, so they are getting some practice with test-taking there. There are also math tests that we have our boys take at the World Geography guide level. In the homeschool setting, I am not a huge proponent of test-taking as a means of evaluating what a child knows. To me, test-taking is just one skill among many needed for success in life, so we seek to balance that skill along with all of the others needed for students to be successful learners.

Blessings,
Carrie