WA state homeschoolers: Which testing/assessment do you do each year?

[grahamsmom98]

I plan on ordering either a test or assessment from Family Learning Organization for ds.

Age-wise, he just completed 2nd grade. Learning-wise, well, he's all over the place (you know how weird homeschoolers are! ).

We started out as using a set curriculum. But, we found it wasn't working for us as well, so we have evolved into more of a cross between some structure and some of a take-it-as-it-comes approach! He LOVES to read (anything), does well in math and science, adores history and has decided writing and spelling are the work of evil aliens bent on his distruction ( : ).

If he was in outside-the-home school, he would have taken the WASL (what a fiasco that sounds like!).

I know we have to do yearly testing/assessments for this state. I'd like to hear what others do/have done. I emailed FLO, as well, but value the opinions and experience of MDC more : !

Thanks, in advance..............

[HRC121799]

This upcoming school year will be the first year that I'll have to file my intent to homeschool and do an assessment/test. I was thinking of doing FLO's freestyle assessment, or the other assessment, or doing the CAT 5 standardized test, since we can administer that ourselves.

Ah, so there's my non-answer,lol. Good thing we have until next Spring to do something, right? lol.

[saphire]

I'm in the same situation DD1 will turn 8 this summer. I intend to use FLO assessment.

[warriorprincess]

We use Homeschool Test Service. They administer the SAT. We've been pleased.

[chaos_pie]

We will have a private assessment (we filed our DOI in May). At first ds wanted to do a standardized test from FLO until he discovered that it will take a couple of hours. So now we have decided to use a private assessment with me present in the room-- shorter, faster. We will use someone that our friends have used and are quiet happy with.

[AnnR33]

We did the CAT5 last yr for 1st gr (had to since he went to public K so we had to declare last yr) and will do the same for this yr.
My son is at differing levels for math/reading/spelling as well but remember a few things:
1. it's multiple choice so he doesn't have to spell the words from scratch
2. many areas have very easy questions and move to harder (above grade level) so that's what helps tell "grade level" for whatever that's worth to you
3. It's just a resource for YOU to use and no one else. If he bombs it but you know his abilities then who cares? No one will see it and you'll be able to take from it what you want, if anything.

For me it told me exactly what I already knew, which was that we needed to work on grammar type things-proper nouns need capital letters, period vs question marks at end of sentences, etc.

I actually would probably alternate the assessment with the CAT5 every other yr but my DH really wants the results from the CAT5 for now so I humor him The state we're moving to next yr requires testing turned into the school district so I guess it's good practice.

[grahamsmom98]

Thanks, everyone, for your replies! I really appreciate your input.

The The CAT/5 is the more comprehensive of the two offered at FLO, covering all major subject areas including Science and Social Studies. The other, WRAT, covers Reading, Math, and Nonverbal Reasoning.

The CAT/5 sounds more like what we would like.

I am wondering one thing about these tests. How do they handle questions about history studies (I assume that is connected in Social Studies), if any?

"We've" studied each of the 50 states and a bit about their history, but not a lot. US history is down the line for him.

Ds has been waaaaaaaaaaaay more interested in studying ancient history, so, this year, we have been focusing deeply on pre-history through to the Sumerians right now. If there are questions on prehistoric life (beginnings of life on Earth & the various eras of the dinosaurs), early man or the ancient Middle East or map questions, no problem. I don't want him to be concerned on seeing and trying to answer US history questions when when he hasn't any knowledge to draw on.

Other than that, I understand that this info is really only for us and to conform to the rules set by the powers-that-be. I know that it is about the state making sure that children are not being allowed to stay home and play and not learning anything academic!

Ds has no problem with the idea of doing this testing. At the end of last year, I bought the Spectrum Test Practice book for grades 1-2 to see what he knew from simply absorbing knowledge from day-today living and such (more of a test for ME, to see where he/we stood!). He aced the entire book, completed over a couple of days. He thought it was great fun. I explained that we will have two weeks for him to complete the test and he is looking forward to it!!

Keep the info coming on the testing and your opinions. Your knowledge is invaluable and I really appreciate you sharing it!

[MistiMama]

Not trying to "steal" your thread, but....

I thought you didn't have to start testing until 3rd grade?!

Am I wrong?! Shoot!!

My daughter just finished up what would be her first grade year and I didn't bother looking into testing because I thought it wasn't required yet.

Crap!!

[AnnR33]

Originally Posted by MistiMama

Not trying to "steal" your thread, but....

I thought you didn't have to start testing until 3rd grade?!

Am I wrong?! Shoot!!

My daughter just finished up what would be her first grade year and I didn't bother looking into testing because I thought it wasn't required yet.

Crap!!

I'm pretty sure you don't have to test until they are 8yrs old.

I had to test for 1st grade only because my son went to public K so I had to file my declaration of intent for 1st grade and test that yr.

If you did not file a D of I this yr and your child is not yet 8 then you are fine.

[Wolfmeis]

this thread freaked me out!

My dd just turned 7 and I have been pretty smug up to now because I didn't have to do anything.

I was reading this, only because it had WA state mentioned, thinking "oh I know her," or "ooooo a person I *don't know!" when I realized....

oh crap,

she'll be 8 next year!!!!!

[DocsNemesis]

Ooo....I guess I better get my butt down to the homeschooling center . Not trying to hijack the thread either, but I have yet to find any homeschooling groups in my area beyond those who are in the homeschooling centers program-which I dont want to do, since it would require all standardized testing (bleh!). Anyone know of any or of a place where I can look it up? I'm in Bothell btw. TIA~

[Eris]

In Bothell, look up the Teaching Parents Association, TPA, I think they meet in Woodinville.

I think the question of whether a child under age 8 who has been enrolled in public school has to have a DOI filed and be assessed is under some debate, with many homeschoolers interpreting the law to say that they do not need to be. When I was researching before moving a few years ago, I found quite a lot saying they did, but since then have seen more opinions the other way. The WHO says that you must formally withdraw, but implies you don't need to file a DOI, in section I B, and I C on this page:
http://www.washhomeschool.org/whoLaw.html


Something I'm still not entirely clear on is exactly when we are going to first need to file a DOI- the September before DD1 turns 8 in November? The September after that (two months before she is 9)? In November on her 8th birthday? The January after she turns 8 (when the next school term starts)?

Personally, I totally lean toward the freestyle or check-off assessments from FLO, and hope that's still around in a few years when we start needing to do it.

[MamaMonica]

Eris, ideally you should file the Sept. before she turns 8 so DOI is on file when she turns eight. I ran into this with a mid-year birthday and you are subject to the law when they turn 8 so need to have a DOI on file then (that's what I was told, at least!)

[chaos_pie]

Eris-
I have talked with both a lawyer friend and the person that we will use for assessment (she formerly ran the Seattle Homeschool Resource Center). From what I have learned, you file right on the 8yo birthday (I believe that the wording on the DOI form that I used even states something about 'child is 8yo or older').

As for school year, my lawyer friend confirms that the term school year is not defined (although she found some other place where a school year was Sept-end of August-- I can't remember exact details-- but that could serve as a precedence she had said). The assessment woman says that the law was written to allow for homeschoolers to interpret what a school year to them means (ie-maybe your school year is Jan-October and then you travel in Spain for your 2 month 'vacation'). I really like that interpretation.

[Wolfmeis]

what do you know about the KTEA?

[Wolfmeis]

Yikes. That's disheartening!