![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nche.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Crowell5ReasonsPlain-320.jpg?resize=320%2C213&ssl=1\")
Out of all the months of the year, October is perhaps the one most associated with the ghoulish and the ghostly. But no witch or goblin could ever strike fear into the hearts of new homeschoolers as much as our state\u2019s annual testing requirement.<\/p>\n
Never fear! Testing your student once each year really shouldn\u2019t be any scarier than the adorable little princesses and superheroes who parade through your neighborhood each October 31. Here are five reasons you should ditch the standardized testing superstition:<\/p>\n
1. Nobody Has to See the Scores but You<\/strong> It\u2019s possible that you may be asked to show proof of testing to a representative from DNPE at some 2. Testing Can Give You Good Information \u2013 About Your Student and About Yourself<\/strong> 3. \u201cTest Prep\u201d Is Unnecessary<\/strong> 4. Test Scores Aren\u2019t the Boss of You<\/strong> 5. Finding and Administering a Test Doesn\u2019t Have to Be Difficult<\/strong> If you\u2019re not comfortable administering a test at home, contact a few co-ops in your area to see if they NCHE has a wealth of information about testing on its Testing and Testing Services page<\/a>. Remember: Whitney Cranford Crowell knew she had reached peak homeschooling when she bought a custom nine-foot by six-foot bookcase with matching ladder and still did not have room for all the books. She lives in her childhood home outside High Point, with her husband of twenty years, their fifteen-year-old daughter, and their nine-year-old son.<\/em><\/p>\n Are you a new NCHE member? We’d love to meet you! Introduce yourself in the comment section below, or email us at nche@nche.com. We are serious about our commitment to serving each one of our members. Thinking of becoming a member? Start here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by NCHE Guest Contributor Whitney Cranford Crowell Out of all the months of the year, October is perhaps the one most associated with the ghoulish and the ghostly. But no witch or goblin could ever strike fear into the hearts of new homeschoolers as much as our state\u2019s annual testing requirement. Never fear! Testing your student once each year really shouldn\u2019t be any scarier than the adorable little princesses and superheroes who parade through your neighborhood each October 31. Here are five reasons you should ditch the standardized testing superstition: 1. Nobody Has to See the Scores but YouYes, that even includes your student! If doing well on a difficult test motivates and inspires your child to continue reaching higher, then by all means, share the results! But if test scores only produce anxiety or lower your child\u2019s self-esteem, there\u2019s no need to even mention them. Simply file the score sheet away as part of your school\u2019s official records, and go on with life. It\u2019s possible that you may be asked to show proof of testing to a representative from DNPE at somepoint in your homeschooling career, but most of these meetings are strictly voluntary. And DNPE isn\u2019tinterested in evaluating your child\u2019s test score, but only verifying that you\u2019ve had him tested. Test scores may also be requested should you decide to enroll your child in a public or private school, but there are generally other options available for placement if you feel that they don\u2019t accurately reflect your child\u2019s abilities. 2. Testing Can Give You Good Information \u2013 About Your Student and About YourselfWhile they\u2019re far from perfect, standardized tests do exist for a reason, and they can give you valuable information about your student\u2019s strengths and weaknesses. They can also show you where you, the teacher, may need to up your game and find a better way to meet your child\u2019s needs– whether that means providing extra support or extra challenge. In order to glean the most useful feedback, it\u2019s important that you know how to properly read the test’s score report, so be sure to take the time to study the explanatory key included with your child\u2019s scores. 3. \u201cTest Prep\u201d Is UnnecessaryThe emphasis on testing and test prep is one reason many families have left public school. But ashomeschoolers, we have the benefit of being able to use the tests for the good they provide us without the added stress of weeks of prep. If your child is completely unfamiliar with the mechanics of taking a test (such as filling in bubbles), you might wish to introduce those to her prior to test day. But spending a lot of time preparing for the test is unnecessary. Instead of test prep, focus on providing an enriching educational environment and experience. 4. Test Scores Aren\u2019t the Boss of YouAnnual and end-of-course testing can cause a lot of anxiety because of the influence they exertover a class\u2019s final grade or promotion to the next level. But in your homeschool, test scores don\u2019t have to change anything unless you want them to. Decisions about the course of study, promotion to the next grade, and how high school credits are earned are completely up to you. You know your child best! 5. Finding and Administering a Test Doesn\u2019t Have to Be DifficultThe State of North Carolina requires homeschoolers to administer a \u201cnationally standardized test orother nationally standardized equivalent measurement\u201d which \u201cmeasure[s] achievement in the areas of English grammar, reading, spelling and mathematics\u201d annually to each enrolled student. There are many options that fulfill this requirement. Most are relatively inexpensive (in the $25-$60 range), and many can even be administered at home, although some require the administrator to have a bachelor\u2019s degree. If you\u2019re not comfortable administering a test at home, contact a few co-ops in your area to see if theyoffer group testing. You can also utilize one of the many testing services in our state, or choose a testthat is given one-on-one by a trained administrator, such as the Woodcock-Johnson. NCHE has a wealth of information about testing on its Testing and Testing Services page. Remember:When it comes to testing, DO be prepared, but DON\u2019T be scared! Whitney Cranford Crowell knew she had reached peak homeschooling when she bought a custom nine-foot by six-foot bookcase with matching ladder and still did not have room for all the books. She lives in her childhood home outside High Point, with her husband of twenty years, their fifteen-year-old daughter, and their nine-year-old son. Are you a new NCHE member? We’d love to meet you! Introduce yourself in the comment section below, or email us at nche@nche.com. We are serious about our commitment to serving each one of our members. Thinking of becoming a member? Start here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16065,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" by NCHE Guest Contributor Whitney Cranford Crowell<\/em><\/p> Never fear! Testing your student once each year really shouldn\u2019t be any scarier than the adorable little princesses and superheroes who parade through your neighborhood each October 31. Here are five reasons you should ditch the standardized testing superstition:<\/p> 1. Nobody Has to See the Scores but You<\/strong> It\u2019s possible that you may be asked to show proof of testing to a representative from DNPE at some 2. Testing Can Give You Good Information \u2013 About Your Student and About Yourself<\/strong> 3. \u201cTest Prep\u201d Is Unnecessary<\/strong> 4. Test Scores Aren\u2019t the Boss of You<\/strong> 5. Finding and Administering a Test Doesn\u2019t Have to Be Difficult<\/strong> If you\u2019re not comfortable administering a test at home, contact a few co-ops in your area to see if they NCHE has a wealth of information about testing on its Testing and Testing Services page<\/a>. Remember: Whitney Cranford Crowell knew she had reached peak homeschooling when she bought a custom nine-foot by six-foot bookcase with matching ladder and still did not have room for all the books. She lives in her childhood home outside High Point, with her husband of twenty years, their fifteen-year-old daughter, and their nine-year-old son.<\/em><\/p> Are you a new NCHE member? We'd love to meet you! Introduce yourself in the comment section below, or email us at nche@nche.com. We are serious about our commitment to serving each one of our members. Thinking of becoming a member? 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Yes, that even includes your student! If doing well on a difficult test motivates and inspires your child to continue reaching higher, then by all means, share the results! But if test scores only produce anxiety or lower your child\u2019s self-esteem, there\u2019s no need to even mention them. Simply file the score sheet away as part of your school\u2019s official records, and go on with life.<\/p>\n
point in your homeschooling career, but most of these meetings are strictly voluntary. And DNPE isn\u2019t
interested in evaluating your child\u2019s test score<\/em>, but only verifying that you\u2019ve had<\/em> him tested. Test scores may also be requested should you decide to enroll your child in a public or private school, but there are generally other options available for placement if you feel that they don\u2019t accurately reflect your child\u2019s abilities.<\/p>\n
While they\u2019re far from perfect, standardized tests do exist for a reason, and they can give you valuable information about your student\u2019s strengths and weaknesses. They can also show you where you, the teacher, may need to up your game and find a better way to meet your child\u2019s needs– whether that means providing extra support or extra challenge. In order to glean the most useful feedback, it\u2019s important that you know how to properly read the test’s score report, so be sure to take the time to study the explanatory key included with your child\u2019s scores.<\/p>\n
The emphasis on testing and test prep is one reason many families have left public school. But as
homeschoolers, we have the benefit of being able to use the tests for the good they provide us without the added stress of weeks of prep. If your child is completely unfamiliar with the mechanics of taking a test (such as filling in bubbles), you might wish to introduce those to her prior to test day. But spending a lot of time preparing for the test is unnecessary. Instead of test prep, focus on providing an enriching educational environment and experience.<\/p>\n
Annual and end-of-course testing can cause a lot of anxiety because of the influence they exert
over a class\u2019s final grade or promotion to the next level. But in your homeschool, test scores don\u2019t have to change anything unless you want them to. Decisions about the course of study, promotion to the next grade, and how high school credits are earned are completely up to you. You know your child best!<\/p>\n
The State of North Carolina requires homeschoolers to administer a \u201cnationally standardized test or
other nationally standardized equivalent measurement\u201d which \u201cmeasure[s] achievement in the areas of English grammar, reading, spelling and mathematics\u201d annually to each enrolled student. There are many options that fulfill this requirement. Most are relatively inexpensive (in the $25-$60 range), and many can even be administered at home, although some require the administrator to have a bachelor\u2019s degree.<\/p>\n
offer group testing. You can also utilize one of the many testing services in our state, or choose a test
that is given one-on-one by a trained administrator, such as the Woodcock-Johnson.<\/p>\n
When it comes to testing, DO be prepared, but DON\u2019T be scared!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/nche.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Crowell5ReasonsPlain-300x200.jpg\")
Out of all the months of the year, October is perhaps the one most associated with the ghoulish and the ghostly. But no witch or goblin could ever strike fear into the hearts of new homeschoolers as much as our state\u2019s annual testing requirement.<\/p>
Yes, that even includes your student! If doing well on a difficult test motivates and inspires your child to continue reaching higher, then by all means, share the results! But if test scores only produce anxiety or lower your child\u2019s self-esteem, there\u2019s no need to even mention them. Simply file the score sheet away as part of your school\u2019s official records, and go on with life.<\/p>
point in your homeschooling career, but most of these meetings are strictly voluntary. And DNPE isn\u2019t
interested in evaluating your child\u2019s test score<\/em>, but only verifying that you\u2019ve had<\/em> him tested. Test scores may also be requested should you decide to enroll your child in a public or private school, but there are generally other options available for placement if you feel that they don\u2019t accurately reflect your child\u2019s abilities.<\/p>
While they\u2019re far from perfect, standardized tests do exist for a reason, and they can give you valuable information about your student\u2019s strengths and weaknesses. They can also show you where you, the teacher, may need to up your game and find a better way to meet your child\u2019s needs-- whether that means providing extra support or extra challenge. In order to glean the most useful feedback, it\u2019s important that you know how to properly read the test's score report, so be sure to take the time to study the explanatory key included with your child\u2019s scores.<\/p>
The emphasis on testing and test prep is one reason many families have left public school. But as
homeschoolers, we have the benefit of being able to use the tests for the good they provide us without the added stress of weeks of prep. If your child is completely unfamiliar with the mechanics of taking a test (such as filling in bubbles), you might wish to introduce those to her prior to test day. But spending a lot of time preparing for the test is unnecessary. Instead of test prep, focus on providing an enriching educational environment and experience.<\/p>
Annual and end-of-course testing can cause a lot of anxiety because of the influence they exert
over a class\u2019s final grade or promotion to the next level. But in your homeschool, test scores don\u2019t have to change anything unless you want them to. Decisions about the course of study, promotion to the next grade, and how high school credits are earned are completely up to you. You know your child best!<\/p>
The State of North Carolina requires homeschoolers to administer a \u201cnationally standardized test or
other nationally standardized equivalent measurement\u201d which \u201cmeasure[s] achievement in the areas of English grammar, reading, spelling and mathematics\u201d annually to each enrolled student. There are many options that fulfill this requirement. Most are relatively inexpensive (in the $25-$60 range), and many can even be administered at home, although some require the administrator to have a bachelor\u2019s degree.<\/p>
offer group testing. You can also utilize one of the many testing services in our state, or choose a test
that is given one-on-one by a trained administrator, such as the Woodcock-Johnson.<\/p>
When it comes to testing, DO be prepared, but DON\u2019T be scared!<\/p>