Just a (hopefully) quick question. How do you teach a child to do well on standardized tests? My son absolutely cannot do well on these tests.He started out with single digit scores until the 4th grade. He gets accommodations for these tests now but still he is nowhere near showing what he knows.He came within 20 to 2 points from passing the VA SOL tests(5thgrade) with sped help last year(points did go up about 200 from the 3rd grade test). This year he took the Terra Nova and his nat’l percentages ranged from 3 in reading to 46 in math. This from a kid who is on the B honor roll. I worry that one he will not pass any exit tests from high school and will not be able to do well on sat or act tests. His accommodations right now are sped teacher reading and clarifying directions, extra time, testing in sped room and he writes on the booklets instead of using the bubble sheets. I’m not sure what else to do as far as accommodations. Is it a matter of teaching how to take these tests? Any suggestions would be great. As an aside, he was in sped class for lang.arts in 5th, (no sped help previously), but put in reg. classes for 6th. He seems to be doing ok(b in english last quarter) although he still can’t spell very well and punctuation is hit or miss.Thanks y’all!
Re: standardized tests
Many people tense up when they here the word standardized test. The reality of standardized testing is that many of our kids struggle when it comes to taking these types of test.
While standardized tests are problamatic at all ages and levels of schooling, they are especially challenging in primary grades. In these years, childrens growth is most uneven. I wouldn’t worry too much considering your sons age, when it comes to taking standardized test. Befor your son takes exit exams or the S.A.T., he can go through test preparation programs that are offered. Then he will be old enough to understand test taking techniques.
The most important thing you can do is have an open line of communication with your child’s teacher, so you can monitor his progress and find out what activities you can do at home to help your child and strengthen those particular skills. Ask your son’s teacher if she has any resources or materials so he can practice taking test. Another thing is make sure he is as comfortable as he can be when taking a test. Also some good information can be found on the website kidsource.com
Re: standardized tests
Thanks y’all for the info.I have gotten him a work book to go through for the summer (test prep) and will definitely look into the classes that are offered as he gets older. I got the book so I could see for myself where the problems lie.At least that is what I hope to do.
Get a copy of a standardized test. Any one that you feel tests for knowledge your son already has. You read the questions to him. See what he gets wrong and see if you can figure out any explanation or pattern to what he’s doing wrong. Is he just guessing? Do you see any thought or consideration or active decision making going on on his part?
The point would be to see what’s going wrong for him. You might also get some insight into that if you ask the teacher who administers the tests to him.
My best guess would be it’s something very fundamental. Some kids get “lost in space” on standardized tests. Has anyone explained the process to him? That standardized tests often ask questions at random and that one question doesn’t really follow another?
Then while you’re driving in the car, play “standardized test”. Make up questions that you say outloud to him like…
The _________ is an animal that lives in trees in Australia.
a. kangaroo
b. platypus
c. koala
d. monkeys
Math questions done this way will be hard but the piece meal approach to testing that standardized tests have can be confusing to kids.
Good luck.