Why My Kids Haven't Taken a Test Yetby Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger 02 Sep 2007 04:17 AM Nope--not one. Not a single one of my home schooled children has taken even one test. We're not required by the state to take standardized tests until 5th grade--so maybe in 4th grade I'll let her take a test for practice. . .maybe. Yet I know other parents are reading this scratching their heads thinking that I've gone off the loopy end. But bear with me--here are a few reasons I ditch the testing. Testing Limits Student Productivity There are several subjects for all three of my kids where they are light years ahead of where they 'should' be. I really believe that one reason they are ahead is that they are not limited to simply study what will be on the test. Instead I encourage them to go deeper and broader into a subject. In our house, we have a subject called 'expert studies' which is really a fancy way of saying, "Pick a subject, whatever you want, and learn all you can." My daughter very consistently picks authors and reads through entire collections. My son on the other hand, generally picks an animal to study. But they've now become 'experts' in several different things and fields and their studies have taken them so far beyond a test. Testing Is Harder for Me Yep--I admit it. I am totally interested in doing the least amount of work possible. If you give your children tests. . .you have to grade them. In fact, educational research shows that if you don't give relatively immediate feedback on the test, then testing is completely useless as a learning tool. So you have to grade it and you have to do it quickly. To be blunt, I have better things to do. Testing is Pointless For me testing is pointless. I realize that there are many parents who really feel like they need that measure of academic evaluation and there are kids, especially ones who were used to school, who really may do better under the pressure of having to know a certain amount. But my kids only know learning as fun and interesting, and have never been to school. The reason I say it is pointless is that I know exactly where they are. Since they are my only students, I know what they understand and what they don't. I don't need a test to tell me that and they don't need the pressure. If they don't know it, we go over it. But they don't fail a test. Related Articles: Teaching Socialization in a Structured Environment National Association of Lunches Takes Aim at Those Who Dare to Eat at Home Do Homeschoolers Brainwash Their Kids?
Learn more about Valorie Delp  Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line. Relevanthomeschooling tags User Comments Nola Redd (7081) 04 Sep 2007 07:11 PMI think you are right about testing at home - I don't see a need for it, if you are constantly working with your kids. You should have a general idea of their weak points, if not a specific one. I'm not looking forward to the state standardized tests. About the only reason I can see to test is to prepare the kids to take the great big tests by people who don't have a clue what to do with the results. That's useful! Great blog.  Valorie Delp (49340) 05 Sep 2007 03:22 AMThanks! And yes, I agree. . .definitely you need to know where your kids are at. . .but I don't need a test to tell me that. Discuss this article
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