“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4

Being a 2nd generation homeschooler, I have come to realize that parents know, for the most part, where their kids are educationally. Annual testing, if required by your state, is mostly just a hoop we’re to jump through in accordance with our state’s requirements for homeschooling. In our homeschool, I seek to make testing fun and easy….or at least as fun and as easy as possible.

The first goal is to not exasperate my children with their annual testing. Even though the above verse specifically addresses fathers, we mothers need to be careful of obeying that verse when it comes to teaching and training our children. The first way I accomplish this goal is to test one child or one group at a time (some age groups have the same testing administration booklets and can therefore be tested at the same time). During their testing time, I let all the other children have a break from all school work. They can play games, watch an educational DVD or work on a special project. This gives the child being tested that needed peace and quiet, as well as giving them something to look forward to when they have completed a test. This also creates less chaos for the test administrator. It would be stressful to try to oversee multiple testing groups at one time!

The second goal is to make testing week seem exciting. I talk it up as being something exciting, and not something to be dreaded. A “plus” to this excitement is that they almost always think that the tests are much easier than their schoolwork, since they are advanced in their studies. I always test at their age appropriate grade level, no matter what grade level they are actually studying, in order to take the pressure off of them and to give me a realistic assessment as to where they are developmentally-speaking in their academics.

The third goal is to not overwhelm them with unnecessary testing. I test only if they are 1) wanting to test and I think it might be valuable to encourage their excitement concerning testing or 2) because the state requires it for their age. I also do not want to give the more “advanced” tests too often or at too young of an age.

In the state of North Carolina, it is required that we register our notice of intent to homeschool and to test annually starting at age 7. So, at age 7 I order CAT-E test from Seton Testing ($25…no pressure, EASY tests, and they meet state requirements). I continue to test for the next 2 years using the CAT-E tests and then, on the 3rd year, we use Iowa Tests of Basic Skills from Triangle Education Assessments ($44). These tests give more detail in the test results, so I like to see how they are doing SPECIFICALLY every 3 years (starting at age 10 or so). Because I understand that detailed test results are not needed, since I am actively involved in my children’s education, I want to make testing fun and easy. This is why I use the CAT-E tests for ages 7-9 and only introduce the harder/longer ones at age 10, and even then I only use the Iowa tests every 3 years until high school (when they are tested every year with the Iowa Tests).

Having had a child with learning disabilities, I used a testing proctor who travels the country administering the Kauffman Test. Shirley Minster was wonderful and she was able to give great curricula advice, which helped tremendously in that child’s education! The Kauffman Test is not only for children with learning disabilities, but if you have a child who is struggling and you can find a test administrator who will also give advice in the area of curricula, that is priceless….to mom and child!

On a side note, I know that each state has different testing requirements, rules and regulations, so this post will not fit into every state’s testing guidleines. Be sure to know and follow your own state’s laws regarding homeschooling and test administration.

So, remember….homeschooling is to teach children that learning is fun! In that same way of thinking, testing can also be fun! Avoid exasperating your children in their home education by relaxing and making the ENTIRE experience FUN – even testing!

By Lisa

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