Should I Test if not required?

[happy@home]

This is my first year homeschooling. I am using LHFHG with my 6 yr old son and soon to be 5 yr old daughter. We are having a blast!! Carrie, I LOVE HOD!! My husband is slowing coming around to the possiblity of homeschooling for a longer period of time. Even though it was his idea to homeschool for Kindergarten he was sure that he wanted dc to attend ps. My oldest dd is in 8th gr in ps. The more she shares about what goes on at ps the more my husband considers continuing to homeschool the younger ones. I can tell that the Lord is working on his heart!!

O.K. now for my question!

In KY I am not required to test my children, only to keep a sample of their best work. The recent post about preparing for testing got me to thinking whether I should test mine and if so, how do I go about it.

Any suggestions and advice is appreciated.

I LOVE you ladies on the board even though I have never met you nor do I post very often. My husband is very ANTI-Internet and I gladly adhere to his wishes.

Thanks again for all your wisdom!! I have learned a lot from you ladies.

Thanks, Carrie, for all your hard work!! I pray that God will richly bless your family!!

My husband hasn't actually decided to homeschool farther than Kindergarten, but I already have much of the next 2-3 years on my bookshelf!! I love everything that HOD stands for!!

[Carrie]

I'm so glad that you are enjoying your year with HOD! That is a blessing to me too!

As far as testing goes, we've found that standardized tests given prior to grade 2 aren't really all that helpful in giving much useful information. The tests are pretty time-consuming to give and really test a child's listening comprehension more than anything, because they are assuming the children aren't able to read the test questions yet (so the parent gives all questions orally).

Once you get to grade 2, it is helpful to give a standardized test every few years, just to have your kiddo have the practice/experience. It helps prepare the children for future test-taking and also gives them another reason for their learning throughout the year. It has the added bonus of showing any weak areas and sometimes gives a little push to be more consistent in any areas that may need it.

You can be approved to be a test adminstrator for the Iowa Basics Skills Test or the SAT's through Bob Jones University, if you have a college degree in any area. If that doesn't fit you, you can easily give a different standardized test through any of the many umbrella schools. There's quite a few moms on the board who can chime in and give you information on that.

Blessings,
Carrie

[Carrie]

Here's a previous thread that does a wonderful job of answering your questions:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1689

Blessings,
Carrie

[jensmom]

I did the Kindergarten CAT test prior to starting to homeschool in the 1st grade. My dd had attended church preschools and kindergarten prior to coming home. I plan to administer the CAT at the end of each year as a way to see where we are and what we need to work on. You can order it online for about $20 and administer it then send it to them for scoring. I got my results in about a week. I can find the company that I ordered it from if you are interested.

I also just did an online reading assessment (free) to find out what her reading level was. She is 1st grade 5th month and tested 1.8 so I was again pleased that we are at least on target.

I find that testing is more for my peace of mind than anything else. In GA we only have to test every 3 years but, again, I will do it yearly.

HTH,
Judy
dd 6 - Beyond

[8arrows]

I do not test in K anymore, but we test every year for practice and peace of mind. Do I think that is necessary. No, but quite frankly it has given us "ammo" for naysayers (probably not the best reason to test, I know). I also want them to have plenty of formal test practice.

[jewel7123]

I did the Kindergarten CAT test prior to starting to homeschool in the 1st grade. My dd had attended church preschools and kindergarten prior to coming home. I plan to administer the CAT at the end of each year as a way to see where we are and what we need to work on. You can order it online for about $20 and administer it then send it to them for scoring. I got my results in about a week. I can find the company that I ordered it from if you are interested.

I also just did an online reading assessment (free) to find out what her reading level was. She is 1st grade 5th month and tested 1.8 so I was again pleased that we are at least on target.

I find that testing is more for my peace of mind than anything else. In GA we only have to test every 3 years but, again, I will do it yearly.

HTH,
Judy
dd 6 - Beyond

I'd be interested in the website for both the CAT test as well as the reading assessment. Thanks!

[learningathome]

This is something that I was thinking about this morning, so I was excited to see it here! I would also be interested in learning of other tests that I can get. I do not have a college degree, so the Iowa is out for me.

[happy@home]

Judy,

Yes, I would be interested in those websites as well. I do have an associates degree, but I don't think that is enough for the IOWA test.

Thanks so much!!

[Carrie]

Ladies,

In the link I provided up above to a previous thread on testing, water2wine talked about using the CAT and provided a link for where you can get it.

Blessings,
Carrie

[jensmom]

I got mine from Seton and was very pleased with them. http://www.setontesting.com/default.php


Judy