Mid-Year Testing

Well here we are, November already!

I decided to do the same testing as last year, MAP Growth online. Why? Because it’s not timed and they adjust the questions to challenge the student. Now I’ll admit I’m not super confident in the scoring results, but they do give some information that is useful for the second-half of the school year.

One perk of testing at home-pets.

We don’t spend weeks and days prepping for the tests, but we do talk briefly about what might be on them the morning before. No need for stress since it’s all for learning.

Honestly after this mid-year test, I don’t even think I’ll bother with end-year testing this time. One kiddo plans to go to public next year, and the other thinks they’ll homeschool for another year, so that works out just fine.

I have one thing to share that the last several tests have taught me. TESTING IS STRESSFUL FOR PROCTORS! I was almost in tears having to sit back watching these kids answer question I couldn’t coach/remind them about. I sometimes felt like a failure. It’s hard to bite your tongue when you know they have done something before, but don’t fully focus enough to produce the correct answer. You know they are more knowledgable than an answer choice.

And back to that scoring…yikes. Knowing that the test gives them very challenging questions along with their grade-appropriate ones- I’m still surprised they scored as high as they did. But hey, it looks good right! Ha!

How do your kiddos feel about testing? What works and what doesn’t? If you’re a test-giver, what input do you have?