Does anyone know if there is periodic testing for homeschool kids to keep them on level?

Question

I am new to this and want to make sure my 6th grader doesnt fall behind. We are in Texas and she will be tested yearly, but I wanted to check into testing her more often. Thanks for any help!!

Answer 1

Texas does not have a testing law, so any testing you are doing is purely voluntary, unless you are participating in an umbrella school that requires testing.
Now, to the real issue here, your child will be fine and you will do a great job, so please, dear, relax. I'm sure you have researched homeschooling, you have picked the best curriculum for your child, and you are ready, so just go with it.
The first year is always hard, and it is natural to doubt yourself and what you are doing, but it will pass.
I had the same feelings. I chose an umbrella program for our first year (my daughter was a 5th grader at the time) and they required a test before they shipped her curriculum. She scored quite well in some areas (natural math whiz) and I was concerned that I would make her lose ground. But, I trusted what I was doing, and since I was using an umbrella program and they were tailoring her curriculum to her needs, I felt confident that if I made it to the end of the year with passing grades, all would be fine.
there is no need to test her more often than once a year. I do not know what curriculum you are using, but most are advanced compared to the public school curriculum, so not only will your child "make it" she will most likely excel. And on that note, if you decide to use the TEKS, then don't use it as something to shoot for, instead use it as something to make sure you never fall to. the educational requirements for TEKS, is sadly quite low, and each year they lower the standards because funding is directly related to TEKS performance, so in order to receive the money they need tests the students can pass.
Take a deep breath, and realize, you made the best choice for your family, and your daughter will benefit tremendously from your decision.
There will be many that will come on here and bash the daylights out of you, but just ignore them. They are grumpy agenda filled people.

Answer 2

Several states (10 so far) have started funding a program called Following the Leaders. Your local district might know if you have access to it, but your state dept of ed would definitely know. If not, plug it while you are on the phone with them.

It's a great tool that states can align to their own grade level expectations. It not only assesses where the students are with the broad categories like the standardized tests do, but it breaks down those categories into individual skills. You can see exactly what skills your student needs to spend time working on. No more need for the shotgun method to try to hit the mystery gaps in learning -- FTL surgically identifies the needs, and then provides a list of lesson plans, worksheets, sometimes games that target the individual skills.

If you have money, you can actually pay to use the tools that FTL otherwise provides for free. It would be a combination of the resources available on the following websites.

Answer 3

Why would you want to test her more often? The tests are designed with the assumption that the child has completed a certain level of schooling. If you test her before she's finished the work, then what are you accomplishing?

If you really feel the need for tests, take her books and make up some tests.

Answer 4

Texas has no such law for homeschoolers, you do not have to report to the state, although perhaps your local homeschool group has an annual testing in which case you'd receive a discount the results would be for your eyes only.

You can download and give the following test for free -
Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) - Spring 2004 http://www.scotthochberg.com/taas.html

I'm with Cassandra even though we aren't unschoolers (it does work though,however, my husband wants some structure so we do not unschool here) we're relaxed with a classical bend although not religious...we do not grade nor take state mandated tests meant only for moving children up through the "cafeteria line" with their peer group in the school system. I know that my children are learning because I see it in their speech, writing, ability to read and process information, etc. I know by being with them if they are struggling to understand a concept or book BUT because my children are for the most part self-learners, rarely do I have to step into the role of teacher.

Children are so very intelligent and curious by nature and they are all different. There are so many learning styles and they are all unique and those tests put them in a little box and any child that doesn't fit into that box is seen as 'behind'.

Those achievement tests do nothing but test ones ability to memorize and test, they do not measure true learning. If you insist on using them, please try and make it a pleasurable and unstressful event for you child, use it to gear your curriculum around and unless your child does extremely well.

One of the beauty's of home educating is that you can take your time and enjoy the days. Your child can really take time to learn and grow in areas of interest to them....like Edison, for example. He only had 3 months of formal schooling until his Mom yanked him because the teachers thought he was stupid. He spent much of his time tinkering and well...the rest as they say is 'history'! :-)

I have a 12yo ds also, email me if you'd like to know more about our process and/or curriculum. We are done within 3 1/2 hours and that leaves the rest of the day for fun, areas of interest, friends, and the list goes on and on.

Answer 5

In most cases homeschooled kids can take the same tests that public school kids take. If you want that. Some state require standardized testing every year or every other year.

Answer 6

I was required to take the Stanford test once every two years, but my mother requested that I take it every year to check my progress.
There are books of practice tests you can get from the library. I honestly don't think she will need to be officially tested more than once a year.

Answer 7

please free your mind from the school way of doing things. it's all wrong, it's misguided, it hurts learning. you want your daughter motivated to learn because of what it does for her. you don't need to test her to check her - just let her live, learn, develop her own interests. unschool her and she will soar beyond any expectations you have - and certainly not 'fall behind' whatever that could possibly mean.