(This post is an updated version of an earlier post, but one that definitely hasn’t lost its value over the years. With our standardized testing period coming up in May, I wanted to revisit some tips for navigating homeschool standardized testing.)

Pages of unfilled little circles can seem overwhelming. For many homeschool families, the words ‘standardized testing’ might strike a chord of fear. Although the tests are intended for the students, they can be a bit of a challenge for the parents as well.

Homeschool standardized testing was something that scared me to death at first. I was worried that our children would somehow massively fail the test and red flags would begin going up all over the county school offices and our children would be brought in for further evaluation. {For the record, that didn’t happen – grins}.

We live in a state where one of our yearly assessment options is submitting results from a standardized test beginning in the first grade. After reviewing the different testing options, we elected to use the IOWA test – it wasn’t as intense as some tests, but also covered a bit more than some other tests we reviewed. For consistency, we have used the same test each year to gauge our children’s progress. While our state only requires us to submit test results for three specific areas, we work on the entire test.

Are You Required to Use Standardized Tests?

Some states require yearly testing starting with younger children, other allow more relaxed testing standards, and other states require no testing at all. Remember that testing requirements vary from state to state, so be sure to check your state laws and know what is required from you and your children {check HSLDA for current information}.

There may be options for end of the year assessment other than standardized testing that can include a yearly portfolio, assessment by a certified teacher, etc. Again – know your state laws and do what you feel is right for your family based on the options available in your state.

For additional help, be sure to visit this post: Know the Homeschool Laws of Your State.

The Process of Standardized Testing

Choose a test that works for your family. Once you have determined the type of testing that is required for your state, you’ll need to find a test that will work for your family. Things to consider when choosing a test: Are you able to be the test administrator? What is the cost of the test? What areas are you required to test?

There are a multitude available, and below you’ll find a quick link to several of the most common test choices. Tests are available to order through various companies, so be sure to look around before deciding on the vendor.

• IOWA Assessment Tests
• Stanford Achievement Test
• California Achievement Test {CAT}
• Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills {CTBS}
• Peabody Individual Test (PIAT)

HSLDA has a great resource page for families listing various testing choices as well as vendors that carry various tests.

Administer the test. Depending on the test you choose to use with your child, you may be able to administer the test yourself {be sure to get certified in plenty of time before the tests}. Some tests will allow you as the parent to test your child, while other require someone else do the testing for you. In our area there are private schools that will administer the test for a fee.

Testing time usually take 2-3 hours a day over the course of several days. Depending on your child, you may be able to squeeze more into a day. Our older children are now at the point where they don’t want to drag it out, and they request to get it done over the course of 1-2 days.

For some great test taking tips, be sure to check out this article from HSLDA: 7 Test Taking Skills to Teach Your Child

Return completed test. Once the testing period is completed, you’ll need to gather your testing materials and return the test and any additional testing materials to the vendor for grading. We typically send our results via certified mail so that we can verify they were received by the vendor.

Interpret and submit testing results. Trying to decipher all the numbers and norms can be a bit tricky. Here are a few articles to help you navigate the number maze:

• Comparing Test Scores – Your Student’s and Norm’s
• Navigating Testing Norms
• Test Scores are Here – Now What?

Tips for Standardized Testing

Take a deep breath. As much as I worry about my kids and how they will do, they have always performed MUCH higher than the required norms. In addition, it has also helped me see areas that may need more attention from year to year (specific areas in math or language) and been an encouragement when they master and make dramatic improvements in those areas subsequent years.  

Be prepared! Spend some time the week before you begin testing reviewing the materials yourself {if you are the administrator} and preparing your child for what is coming.

Choose a testing environment that works for you. While some of your children may do well with lots of noise and action going on around them, quiet may be needed. You know your child better than anyone, so be sure to remove any distractions from the testing area {maybe a pet is a favorite distraction or your child is distracted by external noises}.

We’ve had different scenarios each year, but typically try to find a quiet spot away from other children to work on testing. There have been years we’ve had additional help {i.e. I tested a friend’s child while she watched my other ones} or we’ve had a fun movie marathon for the other kids to ensure some quiet time for testing.

Have lots of pencils, erasers, and necessary tools on hand. While super sharp pencils are wonderful, slightly dull pencils work a bit better to fill in those circles. Inevitably our children manage to break numerous pencils, so we keep a supply on hand along with the large erasers to help with any mistakes.

Some tests may allow for scratch paper or calculators, so be sure everything is in place before you begin. That way you won’t need to go scrounging for things at the last minute.

Take lots of breaks and make it fun. Before testing begins, I pull out snacks {as well as a few fun treats} and plan some break activities for the testee so s/he is ready to go. Every few sections of testing we take a quick break to grab a quick treat, take a bathroom break if needed, and then get back to work. After a good chunk of testing has been completed, we take a fun break to play Wii or something similar.

Hint: Be sure to avoid snacks that are messy and/or greasy – they could stain testing materials!

Get plenty of rest the night before. This pretty much goes without saying, but sleep {or lack thereof} can make a big difference in how your child will perform on the test. Don’t forget that mom needs to get some rest too!

Watch your attitude. This is just a test. If you are showing anxiety or hovering over your child, it can affect how your child responds to the test. We have one child who gets very emotional when she doesn’t fully comprehend something that is being asked on the test. Before testing I always remind our children that they do not have to score perfectly, know every answer – and it is ok if they don’t! They just need to do the best that they can.

CELEBRATE!! Our testing time typically marks the end of our school year – take a night to celebrate with an ice cream party, a special dinner out, or something unique to your family. Make it a night to remember!

Things to Remember for Before and After Standardized Testing

• Know your state’s deadlines for turning in testing results. Our school district has a date for submitting testing results that differs from a few other key dates we need to remember {submitting our letter of intent, etc…}.
• Leave ample time for test taking, returning the tests and receiving test results. Typically turnaround time is between 6 to 8 weeks, depending on the time of year that you test. Be sure to order and schedule your testing and leave yourself some wiggle room for sick kiddos so the testing results will be received in time to submit them to the appropriate offices.
• Keep a copy of the testing results on file for your records. Several years ago we switched school districts and the school district we moved from refused to forward any of our testing and school records on file to the new district. Every year I made duplicate copies of the letters and testing results that were submitted, so I was able to quickly copy those and mail them in.

How Much Does Standardized Testing Cost?

If you are administering your own test, you can expect to pay between $20 to $50 on average. Some families choose to have someone else proctor the test, which can add an additional fee. The cost will vary based on the test that your family chooses to use for testing and also on the age/grade level of your child.

For example, we use the IOWA test {ordered from BJU Press} which actually dropped in price for our older children this past year. Part of this is due to the materials that are provided for testing. Because I am able to administer the test to our children, we do not pay any other fees other than return mailing to the company for scoring.

Keep Your Perspective

Standardized testing is simply a tool to assess your child’s progress. This isn’t a pass or fail test. For our family it has been a way to also look at the homeschool goals that we set at the beginning of the year and compare how those areas match up with what they were tested on. There have been years where one child has struggled in certain areas, and then the next year that child improved remarkably.

Remember that standardized testing is only a ‘snapshot’ of the progress your child is making. There is so much more to your school year than what is summed up in a few pages of a test!

Does your state require testing? What test has your family used for standardized testing? Do you have a helpful tip to help make standardized testing easier? Leave a comment and share!

This post is a part of the Homeschool Basics series. Be sure to read the other posts if you are just joining in. For the record, I am not an expert. I’m a homeschool mom who is sharing what she’s learned so far along the way with her own family.

We were sent this album to listen to at no cost to us. All thoughts are my own.

If there is one thing that I’ve learned over the years, it’s that our kids can learn just about anything when it is put to music. We were recently introduced to a new album, Psalm Songs Volume 1 from Corner Room Music, and it was immediately a hit with everyone in the family (parents included). 

While we desire our kids to understand our faith, there is truly nothing more important to us than having Scripture firmly planted in their hearts. For me personally, there are verses I learned as a child that frequently come to mind and we have seen firsthand how Scripture being sung/played in our home has made a literal difference in attitudes. 

Several years ago our youngest was having a ROUGH day. And by rough, I mean screaming, crying, tantrum throwing of epic proportions. I had done about everything I knew to do: ignored, comforted, wanted to cry myself. After two hours I finally left the room for a moment and felt that I should turn some scripture music on. The change was almost immediate. Within a few minutes, he had stopped crying and was running around happily, singing with the music. That made me think of David playing and singing for Saul and how music calmed him and reached him in Saul’s most desperate moments. The same is true for us today! 

About Psalm Songs, Volume 1

The Corner Room recently released an album based on ten verses from the book of Psalm. Each song is taken word for word from the ESV version of the Bible and put to music. Putting Scripture to music and having it sound good is hard, and they have done an amazing job making the music relevant and enjoyable not only for children, but for the entire family. 

As the Psalms are diverse in their character and intent, so is the musical character of this collection – rock, folk, bluegrass and modern worship are genres you’ll hear on this first volume.

There is truly a little bit of something for everyone on this album, but most importantly, it’s the Word of God being sung over us and being embedded in our minds and hearts. THAT alone means the world. 

Psalm 23 | The Corner Room from The Corner Room on Vimeo.

Listen to a few clips from the songs HERE on the Corner Room website and take a peek at the video above to get an idea of what their album is like. You can also listen to different clips of all the songs on their website. Psalm Songs, Volume 1 is available for purchase from their website and also as an mp3 download from Amazon. 

A Giveaway for YOU!

Corner Room is generously offering FIVE downloads of their album to five readers. Please be sure to thank them for that!! Giveaway is open until Monday, April 4, 2016 at midnight. Giveaway open to all readers, US and otherwise.  

Follow the directions in the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In November I shared a post about something VERY fun that Zachary built – Project Amp. He has absolutely LOVED his amp and it travels around the house with his iPod or a guitar plugged in. EEME is now offering this project as a subscription service with a special offer for my readers that ends Sunday, 2/21 at midnight!

Project Amp Subscription

Project Amp is a speaker amplifier system which your family can proudly build and use to play your favorite tunes from your music player and/or smartphone.

For ages 10 and up. 

Last month I shared two books that had caught my attention, and this month there are two more that have me turning pages and soaking in all their goodness. Both were on my reading list for 2016 and both released this month too – and they really couldn’t have come at a better time!

The Life Giving Home

The Life Giving Home by Sally and Sarah Clarkson is one that I have been anxiously waiting for to arrive. Sally has been sharing daily posts to celebrate the launch this week, and I am excited to listen in on her webinar as well. If you have never read a book by Sally, this is a perfect book to start with – and really just sit at her feet (if you will) and soak in her wisdom.

In this book, Sally and Sarah share what it means to have a home that breathes life into our families. A home that welcomes guests, is a place of comfort and rest, and is the place we all long to be. I love the aspect of having Sarah, her daughter, share her thoughts as well and how daily and yearly traditions shaped her and the family as a whole.

This quote from the book really struck me…

“Home is not merely a dwelling. It’s not merely a state of existence. It’s a story, a narrative spun out day by day, the story molded by the walls and towers and tasks and feasts with which we fill our time, reflecting the reality of the God who is love animates every aspect of our being.”

The Life Giving Home, p. 20

So far I’m about halfway through and loving every page of it, dog-earing pages, underlining and starring thoughts to return to, and savoring every bit.

Raising Grateful Kids

Kristen Welch is another blogger and writer that I absolutely love. After her trip to Kenya with Compassion, she began Mercy House, a n0n-profit ministry that supports women in need around the globe. This month she released Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World.

While we don’t give our kids everything (and boy is it hard in this age of entitlement), Kristen shares her heart in this book on helping cultivate a spirit of appreciation for what we already have and also perspective of the world around them. We want our kids to be givers – and hard workers – as they grow into adulthood, not expecting that everything is just handed to them because they ‘deserve’ it. And truthfully, this book is as much for me as it is for them, if not more so.

Both books have been great so far and are where my heart is at the moment too with what I personally need to hear – building a haven for our kids and at the same time raising them to appreciate all that is around them. I am digging into both at the same time – one in the morning and one in the afternoon – and can’t wait to share more thoughts with you all later, but wanted to share what is impacting me right now.

What are you reading and loving?