Testing...

[sahervey]

Do any of you Moms test your kids to make sure they're learning? I know that sounds stupid, but as a first time homeschooler, please give me some tips about how to "assess" and keep track of how/if my kids are learning. I'll be starting this Homeschooling adventure next fall. Thanks!

[KimS]

I do not test my kids. I have been known to give my jr. high/high schoolers the CAT just to prepare them for taking the SAT.
I figure if they know it they know it if not we do it again. A test is not actually a good way to gauge what they know. I made mostly A's in school and was a great test taker but honestly it was learn and purge. I remember less than half of it. :-/
Some test well and some don't so if you have one that doesn't test well they may still know the stuff just not able to test on it. KWIM
Hope this is some help.

[lmercon]

With the type of learning that HOD fosters, you will find no need to test them. You will be able to do on-going assessments all through the day. Narration is a skill that requires much more understanding and higher level skills than simple test questions. When your child tells back what he/she learned and makes application, you will know whether real understanding has taken place. You will see the application of what they have learned as they make notebook pages, write conclusions on their lab sheets, and create projects. The Charlotte Masons style of education from which HOD models itself is a breath of fresh air. My ds has never taken a single test in his life. He's in "third grade." I am happy for him. I was a school teacher for eight years. While I never liked teaching my students towards the test and assessing them that way, it was the only way that was possible. I'm glad that I am giving my ds a wonderful education without the limitations and stress of formal testing. You do have to step out in faith a bit at the beginning because it is so different from how we were educated and how most education is "done" today, but you will quickly come to appreciate the simple, authentic learning that takes place.
hth,
Laura

[momof4]

We are required to test in our state. You have to be careful how you look at the results. If you don't cover the material in the same order as a public school, your children may not score high in that area on the test. Doesn't mean they are behind. You just may be covering it in a different order.

If I wasn't required to test, I don't think I'd test my daughters, but I would test my son. He has some attention issues and I want to make sure he is progressing. We've had to work harder on reading. He is doing better, but he still struggles now and then.

[lmercon]

I should clarify. I do have to give the standardized tests that my state requires. I was referring to general end-of chapter classroom tests in my other post.
Laura

[MomtoJGJE]

We will start doing tests for a while. I'm making them out using the TM as a guide. It's not really to see what DD is learning though... it's more to show her that she needs to pay attention during school time. She's gotten really bad about not trying hard and just playing around. We'll do it for a few weeks and see if we need to continue after that.

I found one thing I could ask about from each day of history and science, a few questions about Bible and English, and one or two math problems from each day along with random other questions of things to make the tests be 25 questions.

[countrymom]

I should clarify. I do have to give the standardized tests that my state requires. I was referring to general end-of chapter classroom tests in my other post.

I don't do any "testing" of that kind, but I am always assessing and evaluating as we do the work. With the style of HOD, you can tell pretty easily if they understand the material. I may choose to go over something again or redo something if I sense ds doesn't seem to have a handle on it. I do throw in extra activities for math periodically that is my version of a test, but ds just thinks it is another worksheet or activity. I like to throw in a concept periodically to see if he really does get it. I do plan to do Iowa testing, despite all the limitations of standardized tests. Dh and I are committed to that as a kind of gauge since we are taking the responsibility for our children's education upon ourselves.