To Standardize Test Or Not? Contest Updates

First I want to update on the two contests running on this blog right now. March 13th, is my 1 yr anniversary for this blog. Anyone who signs up to follow this blog, will be entered into a contest to win 1000 Entrecard credits. The second contest is for the Sylvan 4th grade workbooks. I have three contestants so far, all from Twitter. You have until March 30th to enter, please see the top of this blog, for contest details.

Now to the topic of Standardized testing. Here in Florida they take the FCAT. It is this week, and like other third graders, the public school, offered for my son to take it. I contemplated it, as you can use it for your yearly evaluation, and save 65 dollars, but then chose not to. Why, because I do not think at this age standardized tests are accurate. Test tasting is hard enough, and a test that could effect whether or not you can go on to fourth grade, I just do not agree with. Now I must say for the 5th grade FCAT I will probably have him take. As he gets older Standardized tests can be very useful, especially if you feel your child will be college material. I am fairly certain my son will go to college, so he will eventually have to be skilled at Standardized tests. If your child is not college material, or learning disabled, then Standardized testing, probably is not appropriate nor even useful. The sad part, and one of the problems I have with these tests, is that they use them to decide which schools get better funding. They should be used as a learning tool, to see how a student is progressing, not a funding option. I really do dislike that. So what do you think about this subject? I would love to hear from other people who homeschool, as well as public schooled parents.

With all that said, we do, starting tomorrow have testing, made from material we have covered. They are timed, and specific. I use them for grading purposes, as well to see how much information has been retained. It is a tool I like to use, for both strengths, and weaknesses.

Friday Is Test Day Here At Melissas Homeschool, Bathroom Stenciling

To test, or not to test, that is the question of the day. I know homeschoolers have their own style of teaching, but what about testing. Do you give tests to your children? Every Friday, unless school is closed that day, DJ takes a series of tests, made up by me, covering material he learned that week, or previous weeks. I find this to be the best way, for me, to be sure he is retaining what he already learnt, plus I also believe learning through repetition is a great way to remember things. The tests, are short, and cover all subjects, plus a reading comprehension, which I have a book that I take that from. This year, because he is in 3rd grade, I am going to have him take a standardized test, come Spring. The homeschool evaluatorn, said it was not necessary, for him to go to college, but it certainly helps, as they need to know how to take those kinds of tests, once they start preparing for college. So how about you, and your homeschool style?

As stated earlier, in the week, my children for arts and crafts, this week, were going to paint stencils on the master bath cupboards. I chose stencils, because I thought it would be neater. Nope not really, they still made a pretty good mess. It washed up easy though. Note to others, stencils are not perfect, the pain can run behind them and mess up the picture as you will see. Caitlin used way too much paint, and hers kind of smudged. She also had it running completely, down the cupboard, not shown as I wiped it off. DJ's was better, but also the stencil smudged behind the picture, and when I wiped it off, I wiped off part of his bumblebee. For their very first real painting project, I would say it went pretty well. Next time though, I will let them just do free hand, and do whatever they want. I hope everyone has a great weekend. We are keeping one eye on Hanna, the other on Ike, and I have to work night shift this weekend too. So if I dont get much accomplished, that is why.