Importance of Quizzing?

Question

In homeschooling, what is the importance of quizzing? I mean, I know what my daughter is learning, but what is the importance of testing her on materials? I'm not talking about state-required testing, but like chapter tests on math or history. Any ideas?

Answer 1

We do not quiz, test or grade in our home and my children retain everything that THEY have learned. Our style is that of narrating (oral, written, acted out, etc.) and discussing literature that has been read and they read selections from 10-12 different books each week. Two weeks ago my 8yo dd and I read "Leonardo DaVinci" by Emily Hahn and when we picked it up to read on this past Friday, she remembered the town he was born in, the country Italy and its shape, that printing was discovered, the century, the Renaissance and more. Everything she remembered was given in her previous narration.

The same goes for our 12 yo ds, he's been giving very detailed narrations about his readings as well and I am continually blown away by his retention, including people, places, timeframe, events, etc.. He has been reading about the founding of Connecticut ("This Country of Ours" by H.E. Marshall), Religious Warfare (from "The Story of Mankind" by Van Loon), Ben Franklin ("Poor Richard"), The Age of Mythology ("Bullfinch's Mythology"), "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Tom Sawyer, "King Arthur and His Knights", and several more that I cannot, at this time, remember the names of the books.

We follow (for the most part, except we're secular) the 19th Century Educator Charlotte Mason and her methods that she used in her school that still runs today in Britain. No testing, just narrations. Children were given a liberal education from only the best books and their knowledge is based on what they retained from the story, and their thoughts and knowledges. We don't have multiple choice questions and tests that someone else has deemed "what they should remember", this method requires thinking and forming ones own opinions. That is why living books are so important in our home.

A great living book on history or science will be retained as easily as an enjoyable fictional book like "The Wind and the Willows". The books are not rushed but they are read bits and bits over weeks and months so that the children become part of the book they are reading, they get to know the characters and look forward to finding out what happens next. I think Charlotte Mason put it best when regarding history "“The fatal mistake is in the notion that he must learn 'outlines,' of the whole history...of the world. Let him, on the contrary, linger pleasantly over the history of a single man, a short period, until he thinks the thoughts of that man, is at home in the ways of that period. Though he is reading and thinking of the life time of a single man, he is really getting intimately acquainted with the history of a whole nation for a whole age.”

The ONLY "test" they take are math tests. We use Ray's Arithmetic, even then, we still do not grade. If they know the material they move on, if they don't, they work a bit longer at it.

You can read more about the Charlotte Mason form of education for free from here: http://www.amblesideonline.org/CM/toc.html

I'm an unschooler at heart but my husband wanted some structure and I respect his decision, we love the Charlotte Mason method though for not only the short lessons but for giving our children a passion for learning, a love for learning that will last a life time. I only believe that "tests" are useful in school because there are so many children in class and that is the teacher's way of finding out how everyone is doing in their class.

Answer 2

In high school, at least in my state, you have to give so many quizzes and exams per month, and report it.

In elementary and middle school, though, it's not required by the state. However, the tests help you as the teacher to know whether they are "getting" the material or not. You could just have them narrate back to you what they know about the chapter in place of a formal test, as well.

Answer 3

Interesting question, and one I have battled with for a couple of years. I do have friends that do not quiz or test their children in any capacity. I did that for a year, but once my daughter started highschool, I began thinking (more detailed thinking) about her academic future.
I like the freedom of learning in a way that suits me, but I also understand the prime importance of making sure my daughter (and my son, ten years from now) will be prepared to be competitive on the collegiate level, and that means being able to test well, and to pull important information out of those dry boring text books.
So, in my opinion, if your child is going to pursue any form of education after highschool, whether trade or technical school, community college or an ivy league university, I think it is important to make sure they know how to take quizzes, tests, write essays, and study textbooks.
I do both actually. i still use living books for a lot of subjects, but as a supplement, then I use a standard text and test curriculum so she has experience in dealing with those types of situations.
She does well, and I think the two approaches harmonize well. My daughter doesn't particularly like the quizzes and tests, but I treat them as their own subject: study skills. It's just a mind thing, but it works.
hope this helps.
PS I even have my 2nd grader work with self tests and unit tests, just as practice, but we certainly don't stress out over them.

Answer 4

I home schooled my daughter. The importance of quizzing is to help short term memory become long term memory. Everything you child does to get into college will depend on their ability to retain knowledge. Short term memory is enhanced by getting enough sleep at night. The first 4 hrs rest the body, and the second 4 hrs help you remember what you learned that day.

Answer 5

Oh it's important I think... It's what makes kids study in the real world. I don't understand what kid's motivation would be without it. It's really fun, like a game. So no quizzes=she gets bored=her mind isn't stimulated=point of homeschooling ruined. Even though I don't like quizzes, they're really important to get you to study.

Answer 6

You may know what she is learning, but quizzes are for determining what she retains in her memory. I have heard it takes 7 times repeatedly before you can retain a fact. Do the quizzes, you might be surprised what she has forgotten.

Answer 7

I know that I'm not qualified to give my children quizzes at home (I'm for them, though). I send my kids to a public school, and they pretend they're in the class and take the quiz (my wife hacks the teacher's web site so I'll know when a teacher has a test coming up).

Answer 8

It helps to get you ready for the tests. Plus, in case she might go to a different school at some point she will be used to it. Also, it can show you both what parts she may be weak in.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

Usually one subject is related to another, hence the testing.quizzing will help her to think fast on many subjects