Re: testing: was leap of faith
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In a message dated 6/14/99 10:22:44 AM Pacific Daylight Time, KDBecko@...
writes:
high school homeschoolers I work with. (These are homeschoolers, not
unschoolers, but they are still often freaked by tests.) I encourage them
(and their parents) to think of testing as a separate skill rather than a
reflection of intelligence or even how much they know about a subject.
Although we all know that tests are a poor indicator of learning, etc. the
rest of the world hasn't figured this out and everyone will have to take
tests sometime. I tell my students I would rather they learn their test
taking skills early on before they get to tests that really matter -- like
the SAT or ACT. Or even a driver's test. I think this has a couple of
advantages. First, it allows them to examine their test-taking skills, which
are completely separate from how well they know the material being tested on.
Second, if they don't do well they just think, "I don't take tests well"
rather than "I can't do math" or even "I'm not smart enough." Also, if they
approach the test just thinking of it as a test rather than an assessment of
them in some larger way, they're usually calmer and I find calmness is the
first step to testing well.
Elizabeth
writes:
> Now that I think aboutI don't know how old your son is, but I can tell you how I handle testing the
> it, I have no idea how I will explain the tests to our son next year. It
> could end up being quite traumatic.
high school homeschoolers I work with. (These are homeschoolers, not
unschoolers, but they are still often freaked by tests.) I encourage them
(and their parents) to think of testing as a separate skill rather than a
reflection of intelligence or even how much they know about a subject.
Although we all know that tests are a poor indicator of learning, etc. the
rest of the world hasn't figured this out and everyone will have to take
tests sometime. I tell my students I would rather they learn their test
taking skills early on before they get to tests that really matter -- like
the SAT or ACT. Or even a driver's test. I think this has a couple of
advantages. First, it allows them to examine their test-taking skills, which
are completely separate from how well they know the material being tested on.
Second, if they don't do well they just think, "I don't take tests well"
rather than "I can't do math" or even "I'm not smart enough." Also, if they
approach the test just thinking of it as a test rather than an assessment of
them in some larger way, they're usually calmer and I find calmness is the
first step to testing well.
Elizabeth
A.Y.
I think that I'm going to approach testing with my son (seven next year) by
saying that in order to be able to stay home this is something we have to do.
I plan on buying a standardized test and doing it with him, and then just having
it in my files.
In NC, you just have to have it in case anyone asks for it.
I've never heard of anyone being asked EVER!
Ann
saying that in order to be able to stay home this is something we have to do.
I plan on buying a standardized test and doing it with him, and then just having
it in my files.
In NC, you just have to have it in case anyone asks for it.
I've never heard of anyone being asked EVER!
Ann