Brenda Rose

I think most people here don't like standardized tests, but I wonder if it would be good for mamabeth to start looking for someone who uses a relatively non-threatening test like the Kaufman in case it gets to a point where "they" want to see "test scores." If you can find someone who does the Kaufman (or somethingsimilar) who will work with you maybe Sarah could be "tested" and you'd have "proof" of her achievement. I give the Kaufman but I live in VA. I've worked with non-testing families when they were caught in a bind similar to yours (DSS, court cases). Even if we had to "test" several times, we managed to help the child pass (in VA, 4th stanine, 23rd percentile), which is all the DSS or court could really ask.

Brenda in VA (who has been lurking for months and really appreciates all the wonderful advice and stories!)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Elizabeth Roberts

I have run Sarah through the online diagnostic at School Of Tomorrow (about the only free online test I have found) and she's testing above her current grade level according to their PACE system. I wonder if they'd accept that even though it isn't "official" testing.

I run her through it every now and again to see where she might be needing me to guide her into something. Like one of their areas was properly addressing envelopes and abbreviations for Mister, Miss, etc. SO I've had her helping me write out Christmas Cards. Easy. No Hassle. Yet "academic"

MamaBeth

Brenda Rose <rosebl@...> wrote:
I think most people here don't like standardized tests, but I wonder if it would be good for mamabeth to start looking for someone who uses a relatively non-threatening test like the Kaufman in case it gets to a point where "they" want to see "test scores." If you can find someone who does the Kaufman (or somethingsimilar) who will work with you maybe Sarah could be "tested" and you'd have "proof" of her achievement. I give the Kaufman but I live in VA. I've worked with non-testing families when they were caught in a bind similar to yours (DSS, court cases). Even if we had to "test" several times, we managed to help the child pass (in VA, 4th stanine, 23rd percentile), which is all the DSS or court could really ask.

Brenda in VA (who has been lurking for months and really appreciates all the wonderful advice and stories!)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


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Betsy

**I've worked with non-testing families when they were caught in a bind
similar to yours (DSS, court cases). Even if we had to "test" several
times, we managed to help the child pass (in VA, 4th stanine, 23rd
percentile), which is all the DSS or court could really ask.**

I don't know if DSS would agree with my logic, but look at how old your
child is (in months) relative to his expected classmates. From my point
of view, it's not at all surprising that a student (for example) born 7
or more months after the school eligibility cutoff date would be
"behind" half of his classmates. (Particularly in the earliest grades
when the relative age discrepancies are the largest.)

"Underperforming children" are sometimes held back a grade to "remediate
them" because being swept along trying to keep up with new material when
they have gaps in their basic skills doesn't work very well. This isn't
an issue in homeschooling, when there is no need to move on and
"lecture" on new material is old material isn't learned. (I'm not
really addressing unschooling here.) Even though grade levels are not
truly pertinent to homeschooling, you could tell DSS or the school
district or whatever concerned "authority" you have to satisfy that you
are retaining your child one grade. People who only have to submit test
scores but not tolerate snoopy visits can often "solve" testing
performance problems this way.

I'm grasping at fairly thin straws here, but I wanted to try to say
something constructive (however feeble). My heart goes out to you.

Doing some testing or other assessment and then saying "Yes, there are
some deficiences and this is how we plan to address them" may be what
you need get them off your back. And (god forbid) you might consider
being "willing" (ouch) to take parenting classes as a way of
propitiating the "powers that be" so that they won't take your kids or
make them go to school. I know it sucks, but it could be the much
lesser evil.

Betsy

PS I have a wreath of bells on my front door because I'm getting into
the Xmas spirit early. Hanging bells or windchimes or something on the
inside of your front door might work as an alarm.

Elizabeth Roberts

Thanks, Betsy; that's an idea too.

MamaBeth

Betsy <ecsamhill@...> wrote:

**I've worked with non-testing families when they were caught in a bind
similar to yours (DSS, court cases). Even if we had to "test" several
times, we managed to help the child pass (in VA, 4th stanine, 23rd
percentile), which is all the DSS or court could really ask.**

I don't know if DSS would agree with my logic, but look at how old your
child is (in months) relative to his expected classmates. From my point
of view, it's not at all surprising that a student (for example) born 7
or more months after the school eligibility cutoff date would be
"behind" half of his classmates. (Particularly in the earliest grades
when the relative age discrepancies are the largest.)

"Underperforming children" are sometimes held back a grade to "remediate
them" because being swept along trying to keep up with new material when
they have gaps in their basic skills doesn't work very well. This isn't
an issue in homeschooling, when there is no need to move on and
"lecture" on new material is old material isn't learned. (I'm not
really addressing unschooling here.) Even though grade levels are not
truly pertinent to homeschooling, you could tell DSS or the school
district or whatever concerned "authority" you have to satisfy that you
are retaining your child one grade. People who only have to submit test
scores but not tolerate snoopy visits can often "solve" testing
performance problems this way.

I'm grasping at fairly thin straws here, but I wanted to try to say
something constructive (however feeble). My heart goes out to you.

Doing some testing or other assessment and then saying "Yes, there are
some deficiences and this is how we plan to address them" may be what
you need get them off your back. And (god forbid) you might consider
being "willing" (ouch) to take parenting classes as a way of
propitiating the "powers that be" so that they won't take your kids or
make them go to school. I know it sucks, but it could be the much
lesser evil.

Betsy

PS I have a wreath of bells on my front door because I'm getting into
the Xmas spirit early. Hanging bells or windchimes or something on the
inside of your front door might work as an alarm.


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"List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.

To unsubscribe from this send an email to:
[email protected]

Visit the Unschooling website and message boards: http://www.unschooling.com

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