If you're in a state that requires standardized testing...

[annettemarie]

how much, if any, test prep do you do? My third grader has to take one this year and I'm wondering what I should do to get her ready.

[MamaMonica]

I do no test prep at all. The test results don't need to be reported to anyone, parents file the results so I just keep them for my info. If the results mattered (ei- had to score a certain percentage or they'd have to go in school) I might prep for the test.

[annettemarie]

Here, the test results don't count for anything but they do have to be turned into the school district. We're trying to get one of the mamas in our co-op certified to give the Peabody which is mostly oral, in which case I wouldn't stress out too much.

[MamaMonica]

That one sounds good, being untimed and mostly oral. Deciding which test is tough. I'm still not sure what we're going to do this year.

We did the CAT two years ago, but that is one long test - I think it's over 5 hours by 5th grade. Last year we took the school's test and I wasn't impressed.

[zjande]

We have always found the tests to be very, very easy. So, no prepping here.

[moominmamma]

No prepping here. Our testing in 4th and 7th is written and computer-based, and low-stakes, though results are submitted to 'the authorities.'

Miranda

[stormborn]

None, really. I did tell her the 'tricks' for dealing with multiple choice questions (eliminate the obvious wrong ones, etc) because she didn't have much experience with them. We did the CAT and it was ridiculously easy, which makes me think that the amount of time spent prepping in the public school system is even more crazy than I originally thought.

[mattemma04]

I never did any prep work.I want to see exactly what they remember from their learning.I ordered my tests through piedmont in NC.

Now that my kids are in Montessori they also do testing.Last year nothing was done,but this year dd is in upper el class and they have her taking a pre-test to see what she knows....so they can brush up on areas.I don't agree with it.If the school(or I) am teaching effectively they should do well enough without the need to *study* for the test.Schools want that good testing result so they can boast or get $$$.Atleast with our homeschool testing you really had to do bad(like in the 25% range) to have an issue.Shoot anything below 70% would concern me... never mind the state!


I forget what test we did.Would know it if mentioned.

[mrsjtc]

We're in NY so we have to do a standardized test every year. I don't really mind it, but this year my oldest is in 3rd grade and will be taking the CAT test - a three hour timed test. So I'm with ya on the prep. We're going to buy the practice tests and do a section at a time. I think she's fine with tests in general and is a bright girl so it's not the results I'm concerned with. It's the completely new experience of sitting in rows with a #2 pencil and a bubble sheet. I want her to feel prepared and confident about waht she's doing.

So yes, OP - we're prepping with practice tests. Since our results do get turned into the school district, I'd like good results but more than that I'd like for my DD to have a good experience with testing. I don't want it to be an anxiety-filled day, ya know?

[ChristaN]

Mine are pt in school so we don't do outside testing, but I am helping one of my best friends with hsing & she is hsing full-time so they do have to test. I am going to her house once/week and working with her dd on some subjects that she doesn't feel as comfortable teaching & I will be doing her testing for her. We are going to do the SAT10 b/c it is untimed & time pressure won't likely be a good thing for her dd.

We don't plan to do test prep per se, but we are going to wait until the end of the traditional school year to test b/c she will likely know more of the expected info for her grade then and hopefully do a bit better as a result. Although the test norms are based upon the time of the year, I understand, so when we test may not matter that much. I looked up the requirements in CO, where we live, and she only needs to come out above the 13th percentile, which doesn't seem to be that high of a hurdle. If she had to do better than that, we might prep more. She's a bright kid, so I don't imagine that 13th percentile should be too tough to meet.