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Angel
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 6:19am | IP Logged
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In NY, homeschooled kids are required to do standardized testing every other year in 4th-8th grades. I have a 4th grader this year, and the tests arrived from Kolbe yesterday. When I looked at the booklets, I thought I was going to hyperventilate.
We haven't covered some of the math and language skills at all. He doesn't know his times tables. He has a very (very) low frustration tolerance and is already annoyed at having to take this test, which is suggested to take 5 days. And he has visual processing difficulties which make filling in all those bubbles hard. He has to score above the 33rd percentile, or our homeschool will be put on probation. He has excellent reading skills and knows a lot of science and social studies... but I am worried, just the same. (And also somewhat resentful, seeing as how *I* know we will get to things like predicates, direct objects, averages, and knowing times tables on our *own* schedule. It irks me that I should feel as if I have to teach to a test! Isn't that one of the reasons why we homeschool in the first place, so we don't have to teach to a test, and latebloomers can have the time they need? Argh.)
I'm going to call Kolbe today to see what kind of allowances I can make for a special needs student. (Maybe I should have posted this in the special needs forum. Hmmm.) But there are a few other things I'm trying to figure out, too.
1. There is no way I can give this child quiet for hours *and* proctor the test. How am I going to keep the little ones from disturbing him?
2. My son is sick right now, so we have to wait till he's feeling better to even start the test, but... do I review/try to cram some of those "missing" skills *before* he takes the test? Or do I just let everything stand as it is?
3. I was not expecting the tests to come so quickly (and of, course, then Garrett got sick.) I had planned to do some practice testing with him before the real test. We have to have these tests back in 3 weeks or we're fined. Does anybody know of any good practice tests available on the internet?
I would really appreciate advice in this matter, and hopefully, I will calm down soon. 
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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Dawn
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 6:27am | IP Logged
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Angela, we don't do testing, so I can't help you there (will be praying for you and Garrett, though). I just wanted to quickly comment that Bookworm is sick, too! (Since they played together on Saturday, I'll bet they shared germs.  )
I think calling Kolbe is wise - I am sure there would be allowances for special needs ...
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J.Anne
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 7:22am | IP Logged
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Angela, our testing isn't required, but I had the same reaction when I looked at Spectrum test practice. Lucy has been doing well in finishing Math U See this year, but these is so much in the test that MUS just didn't cover.
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Paula in MN
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 7:54am | IP Logged
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Angela, our testing is required every year. It sounds like the big difference is the parent gets to chose which test and when and where it is taken. The parent is the only one to receive "scores", and of course the parent is the one to pay for it.
I have always used the CAT-E tests from Seton, and the prep tests available from Spectrum. I have found that those Spectrum prep tests really go hand in hand with with CAT-E tests. I'm sorry, I am not familiar with the Kolbe tests.
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Paula
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Angel
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 8:19am | IP Logged
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Paula,
Sorry; I should have been more specific. It's the CAT/5. I'm not sure how different that is from the CAT-E?
We do get to take it at home, but we only have 3 weeks to get the materials (test booklets, etc.) back to Kolbe. The results will be sent to me, but then I have to report them to our school district.
I spent a while this morning looking through the materials, and I am feeling a little better. I also talked to my son a little about the test this morning, and we've determined that we'll be giving the sections in a different order than they suggest. So at least that's one modification that may help.
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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Paula in MN
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 8:50am | IP Logged
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It looks like the CAT-E is a shorter (and cheaper) version of the CAT/5.
Now I am wondering if I should be using the CAT/5. Has anyone else used these tests?
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Paula
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MacBeth
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 9:46am | IP Logged
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Paula's right, Angela. If this is your first time testing, especially, I would use the Seton tests (Cat E) rather than Kolbe's. Sure, Kolbe claims the Cat/5 to be more complete (it simply covers more subjects), but if you really know your kids, you are not trying to diagnose anything, and you are just doing this to satisfy the state, render unto Caesar the least you have to.  In NY, the Cat E is fine.
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Shari in NY
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| Posted: March 07 2007 at 7:04am | IP Logged
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Hi, Angela,
I also live in NY and want to point out that 4th grade can be an "alternate" year for testing. So, if you aren't happy with this year's test scores you don't have to submit them to the school but do a narrative assessment and re-test next year.
Shari
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Angel
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| Posted: March 08 2007 at 4:40pm | IP Logged
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Shari in NY wrote:
Hi, Angela,
I also live in NY and want to point out that 4th grade can be an "alternate" year for testing. So, if you aren't happy with this year's test scores you don't have to submit them to the school but do a narrative assessment and re-test next year.
Shari |
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Shari,
That was how I interpreted the law at first, but the Kolbe guidelines for the state had "grades 4,6,8". It would be a relief if this were just a practice year!
I had my ds do a practice math section from the Spectrum Test Prep today. He had a huge meltdown in the middle of it. The bubbles do not seem to be a problem, but he is mad at the "law guys" he say we have to do standardized testing at all. Not knowing the multiplication tables *is* a problem. After he was done, I scored it, and he got a 48%. He ran out of time because of the meltdown. I guess that's good enough to keep homeschooling, but I'm not sure I'm going to live through next week.
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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Shari in NY
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| Posted: March 08 2007 at 6:05pm | IP Logged
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That was how I interpreted the law at first, but the Kolbe guidelines for the state had "grades 4,6,8". It would be a relief if this were just a practice year!
Angela,
That is just Kolbe's "interpretation". I never turn in test scores until 5th grade. Go ahead and use this as a practice year. If you have already told the school district that you are testing just tell tham you are changing your mind  I know NY has strict laws but it is a rare school district that is aware of them. And most are cooperative about testing.
Praying for you!
Shari
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Angel
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| Posted: March 08 2007 at 6:40pm | IP Logged
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Our school district is actually very hands-off, so I can't imagine they'd expend the effort to tell us we can't use a narrative report when they've never even bothered to tell us whether our IHIP has been approved or not.
Thanks for the advice, Shari -- and the prayers!
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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momtomany
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| Posted: March 09 2007 at 3:49pm | IP Logged
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Here in PA we have to do standardized tests in 3rd, 5th and 8th. It just so happens that we have all three of those grades this year.
For my special needs son, I always get the CAT-E and I get it one grade level lower than what grade he's in. I've read the PA laws over and over and never found the wording that says I have to give the correct test for grade level. I know that if he was in on site school, he wouldn't even have to take a test like that. I don't know if using a test one grade below would work for you. Just a thought.
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TracyQ
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| Posted: March 13 2007 at 1:15pm | IP Logged
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Angela,
We live in NY State as well (12th year homeschooling). We use the PASS test, which is an approved test for NY State. It's from Hewitt Homeschooling and can be found here Hewitt Homeschooling PASS test
This test is UNTIMED, so that's been helpful for us. They only have tests from 3rd through 8th grade though. After that, we use Seton's CAT test, and it's timed. This has been a fine transition for us.
We begin SAT prep then in 9th grade, to get them ready for the PSAT and SAT tests in high school. So far, so good.
You don't have to use the Kolbe tests. I do test in 4th, 6th, and 8th, but many in our local support group interepret it as 5th and 7th. If you are an HSLDA member, you may want to call and ask what they suggest regarding ages of testing and how they interpret the law for that.
This year, I have all three testing. Ugh.
God bless!
Tracy Q.
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homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
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Topic: required standardized testing
