Re: Standardized Tests
[email protected]
In a message dated 12/12/2001 3:58:55 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:
information and he will let me know whether he wants to do it or not. I
figure if it's in the world and he is interested, he deserves to know about
it. When we get newsletters, etc., from homeschool groups, we just go over it.
Tests are tricky. I think they're stupid, but Julian (also 12) expressed
interest in taking an IQ test. I asked if it needed to be "official" and
formal, or if it could be online or through a book. He said casual was fine,
and I ran across something online.
Well, he took it and scored very high (despite taking a snack break in the
middle of the timed test.). I was not surprised--but he was. It turned out
that he thought he was not very smart, and expected low scores. He had some
self-esteem issues because of a couple of friends, and ultimately taking that
little test has been good for him. In the last few months I've noticed him
challenging himself more. He's been writing fairly regularly, and has asked
Beth to teach him math. (I'll go into that in another post.)
I would never push a test on a kid, but since she's asked, I'd give her the
information and let her decide. You can remind her that results on tests are
affected by lots of things, and not to stress it too much. You might also ask
her WHY she wants to take a test.
Kathryn
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected] writes:
> My homeschool group is actively talking about this subject a lot these days.When opportunities for classes, etc. come up, I will give Julian the
> I think Zoe, 12, is interested in taking some kind of test. She has a good
> friend who is doing accelerated work in many areas and has already taken a
> bunch of tests. I am totally uninterested in her taking any sort of test
> ever. But if she really wants to? And if I know she's thinking about it, is
> it wise to give her the info about these tests? We've talked about it some
> -
> I stress how the tests are limited sources of information.
>
> I want to do what she wants, but I fear that having a numerical score will
> leave an indelible "feeling" in her about her intelligence.
>
>
information and he will let me know whether he wants to do it or not. I
figure if it's in the world and he is interested, he deserves to know about
it. When we get newsletters, etc., from homeschool groups, we just go over it.
Tests are tricky. I think they're stupid, but Julian (also 12) expressed
interest in taking an IQ test. I asked if it needed to be "official" and
formal, or if it could be online or through a book. He said casual was fine,
and I ran across something online.
Well, he took it and scored very high (despite taking a snack break in the
middle of the timed test.). I was not surprised--but he was. It turned out
that he thought he was not very smart, and expected low scores. He had some
self-esteem issues because of a couple of friends, and ultimately taking that
little test has been good for him. In the last few months I've noticed him
challenging himself more. He's been writing fairly regularly, and has asked
Beth to teach him math. (I'll go into that in another post.)
I would never push a test on a kid, but since she's asked, I'd give her the
information and let her decide. You can remind her that results on tests are
affected by lots of things, and not to stress it too much. You might also ask
her WHY she wants to take a test.
Kathryn
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 12/12/01 9:43:37 AM, KathrynJB@... writes:
<< Well, he took it and scored very high (despite taking a snack break in the
middle of the timed test.). I was not surprised--but he was. It turned out
that he thought he was not very smart, and expected low scores. He had some
self-esteem issues because of a couple of friends, and ultimately taking that
little test has been good for him. >>
I see that this could be one possible outcome for Zoe as well. Several of her
friends have been officially identified as "gifted" and I know she wonders
where she fits in. Now I know she is "gifted" according to the way schools
test things and I also know her truest gifts are not testable - for instance,
I know she has interpersonal giftedness. I also think it's possible she might
freeze up on a test.
Part of my issue, now that I'm really thinking about it, is wondering if I am
limiting her opportunities because of my own fears. I was a super
overachiever, getting good grades for the sake of grades, blah blah blah. I
was totally invested in being smarter than others, taking more honors
classes, going to the best college....... It's taken me years to become the
blissful underachiever I am now <vbg>.
Zoe could be just like that. There are a set of programs offered by
Northwestern U. - the Center for Talent Development - that I bet she would
love, but I have just dismissed because then there she'd be, surrounded by
school kids all vying for the next spot at Harvard.
What's a mother to do?
Paula
<< Well, he took it and scored very high (despite taking a snack break in the
middle of the timed test.). I was not surprised--but he was. It turned out
that he thought he was not very smart, and expected low scores. He had some
self-esteem issues because of a couple of friends, and ultimately taking that
little test has been good for him. >>
I see that this could be one possible outcome for Zoe as well. Several of her
friends have been officially identified as "gifted" and I know she wonders
where she fits in. Now I know she is "gifted" according to the way schools
test things and I also know her truest gifts are not testable - for instance,
I know she has interpersonal giftedness. I also think it's possible she might
freeze up on a test.
Part of my issue, now that I'm really thinking about it, is wondering if I am
limiting her opportunities because of my own fears. I was a super
overachiever, getting good grades for the sake of grades, blah blah blah. I
was totally invested in being smarter than others, taking more honors
classes, going to the best college....... It's taken me years to become the
blissful underachiever I am now <vbg>.
Zoe could be just like that. There are a set of programs offered by
Northwestern U. - the Center for Talent Development - that I bet she would
love, but I have just dismissed because then there she'd be, surrounded by
school kids all vying for the next spot at Harvard.
What's a mother to do?
Paula
Julie Stauffer
Back in the olden days when I used to administer standardized tests for
diagnostic purposes, I was always concerned about the diagnosis of mental
retardation and how that might color a parent's perception of their child.
I always spent some time with the parents, talking about how a diagnosis is
basically shorthand to describe how a person did on a particular day, in a
particular setting, on a particular set of tasks. I talked with them about
how the diagnosis doesn't change the person. Johnny is still Johnny. He
didn't suddenly become MR when he was diagnosed.
I also would make some very absurd observations of the child and ask the
parent if they were correct. I would use that to make a point of the "if it
sounds correct, keep it. If it doesn't, toss it" philosophy.
I have to say if it was my dd, I would have the above discussion with her
and I would let her test herself.
Julie
diagnostic purposes, I was always concerned about the diagnosis of mental
retardation and how that might color a parent's perception of their child.
I always spent some time with the parents, talking about how a diagnosis is
basically shorthand to describe how a person did on a particular day, in a
particular setting, on a particular set of tasks. I talked with them about
how the diagnosis doesn't change the person. Johnny is still Johnny. He
didn't suddenly become MR when he was diagnosed.
I also would make some very absurd observations of the child and ask the
parent if they were correct. I would use that to make a point of the "if it
sounds correct, keep it. If it doesn't, toss it" philosophy.
I have to say if it was my dd, I would have the above discussion with her
and I would let her test herself.
Julie