To test or not to test annually is really up to the state you live in and/or the administrator of your private school (in many cases that would be you or your husband). If your state laws mandate yearly testing, then you have no choice. If your husband would like to see how your children are doing, then you should honor that as well. Here are five reasons for testing:
- Testing can be used as a gauge to guide us in curriculum and subject choices. It helps answer the questions: What is lacking? What have you done enough of? What should your focus be for next year?
- Having children tested can give the child a sense of confidence in their strong areas, and motivation to work on their weak areas. It also confirms what we already know as their teachers (where they need more help and where they excel.)
- Testing can become a confirmation that no matter how poorly we think we have done as teachers, our children have most likely excelled or advanced despite us. It encourages us as we continue on the journey by taking something we are uncertain of, and making our children’s progress firm in our minds and on paper.
- Tests are beneficial for any legal activities that may arise from homeschooling. Tests results can be valuable (or required) for our children’s portfolios.
- Children learn how to take tests now so that they will be prepared for tests that come in their academic future.
Aside from assessing whether we are in right standing academically, we should also test our hearts to see if we are in right standing before the Lord. The Bible has some good perspectives on testing that we would do well to adopt:
1) God tests our hearts for obedience:
“And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove (test) thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.” Deuteronomy 8:2
2) Test everything, and hold on to what passes the test.
“Prove (test) all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21
Man’s tests measure knowledge; God’s tests measure wisdom. Let’s not forget to assess both of these things in our children’s lives as we keep them Home Where They Belong.
~Deborah
dwuehler@theoldschoolhouse.com
P.S. If you want to know how homeschoolers test across the board, go to www.nheri.org and get one of their free fact sheets here.
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Have you visited our Schoolhouse Dailies tab recently? Whether you are looking for core lessons like Spelling or fun printable worksheets for summer, Schoolhouse Dailies can help!
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