I was recently asked this question, and I think it's a great question that deserves a straightforward answer.

We do grades and testing in our homeschool, mostly for me, so that I can see what areas we have mastered and what areas we need to work on. Certainly not because anyone is "telling" me that I "have to" do that (knowing me, THAT would get the exact opposite response ROFLOL)

A veteran homeschooling friend (former public school teacher--and oh how *many* former public school teachers I know who are now homeschoolers!!) of mine put it to me like this recently (and she's actually more along the 'unschooling' line it seems to me): In school, kids go day after day, and if they miss something, it never really gets taken care of, leaving some kids perpetually behind in certain areas, and they may never truly understand it, but on they go for the next 12 years, with 'gaps' in learning along the way (I can attest to this myself~plenty of things I never really "got", but oh well, we had to move on). In homeschooling, though, we have the opportunity and time to use tests and other assessments to be sure that we FILL those gaps--not letting anything go 'not understood'. We also have the opportunity to cater our homeschool to each individual child's best learning style, thus increasing the likelihood that those gaps get filled.

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Posted by Dizzy

When the Lord called us to home school, He led us in every way......and grading and testing and quizzing was the way.
It has worked out beautifully.
The Lord has guided the hand of my oldest child in her SAT and ACT test (for college admission) and blessed us with a high score.....
I don't know any 'smart' people, like school teachers and such, but we have been very blessed as we have followed the Path He chose for us!!

Laura

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Posted by Tania G.

I could not agree with you more :) Also, in our homeschool, the girls like to have grades (they are a little competitive!).

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