Jan. 9, 2007
Yikes! Annual Testing is Around the Corner
A mom from our homeschool group called me this morning, asking me in a "trying-to-keep-calm" panicky voice if I knew who administered the Stanford test, as she used Bob Jones and she needed to order it by Jan. 16, and she had NO idea where to have her daughter take it.
Even though I am the coordinator for our group this year, (I am so new to this as this is my first year leading and I have learned ALOT and still have a long way to go!) my DD is only 7 -- which means, according to NC state law, this is the first year we have to worry about testing -- and it's been about a year since I've even thought about testing, or what test we were even going to give our daughter.
Growing up in public school, I remember the agony of two to four day testing in the abnormally cold gym with all of the other nervous students as we griped our yellow number two pencils in our sweaty hands, and read page after page of the Iowa Basic Skills Test and filled in little circles on the anwer/scoring sheet under the harsh florescent ligting.
"Hum.. I have no idea what the answer to number 102 is -- I haven't used "C" in awhile, so I think I'll fill-in that one."
It was awful. Then you had to wait for weeks to find out your score -- I always did ok, but testing like that is not anything I feel is beneficial to do to small children. Taking tests in that fashion, with all if it's pressure, etc may explain why my hubby & I were kindred spirits as we freaked out studying for big tests in college -- the pressure made us study hard and we did well, but often at the expense of our sleep, emotional well-being, and loving to master the material just for the sake of enjoying the subject.
In searching out questions for the mom in our group (she eventually found the answer after calling BJP), I discovered the test I would like DD do this year. Two of my homeschooling friends that I called said they use the Woodcock-Johnson test and they shared with me about it. This sounds like something that says "perfect for us" all over it.
DD is creative, sweet, and smart, but often dislikes sitting for long periods of time and feeling pressured to work against the clock. Like most kids, she will start to day-dream if things get too long. I know the day will come when she will have work longer, etc, but that will come soon enough and when she is physically and emotionally ready for it.
The Woodcock-Johnson takes about an hour and you do it with a specially trained administrator. They orally ask your children questions, and a portion of it is written. This is the only test in the world that has had the acheivement & cognitive batteries co-normed, which means they can assess whether your child is working up to, below, or beyond their potential. Also, the cognitive batter can give an IQ score and highlight how the child learns/processes best; the later is something I think would be wonderful information to have to confirm, tweak, or change what we are doing in our homeschooling. Both moms said their kids were relaxed and enjoyed the testing. And the administrators sit down afterwards and give you the results then and there.
Boy, do I wish the school board would of had us all take that test when I was in school....
Here is more information on the 21 portions of the test: http://alpha.fdu.edu/psychology/woodcock_ach_descrip.htm
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I have been the bride to the most gracious, sweetest man in the world for the last 11 years. What I love most about him is that he is always striving to be a better husband, father, and child of God.
