The Value of Standardized Testing?

One of the questions I am most asked is, “How do you know your child is learning what he/she needs to know?” Another way of putting this question (and what the asker really means)is, “How do you know your child is keeping up with the children in public school?”

My gut reaction (which I suppress) is to ask a question in return: “Is that really what I want for my children?” Instead I have always assured the individual that I am a cool homeschool mom. While I don’t have to, I do check what my children are learning against a variety of scopes and sequences of various curricula. I also tell the person that about once a year I go to the Texas Education Association (TEA) website to check on things and give my daughter some published versions of their standardized tests, just to see how she’s doing.

I will say such things no more after what happened with this week’s tests. I SHOULD have learned my lesson two years ago when I gave her the 10th grade Social Studies test and she passed it with an A+. She was 10 years old at the time. The first question was: Who was President of the United States during the Civil War. NO KIDDING!

So now, on to this last week’s tests. My daughter is learning Algebra this year. (For those curious, we are using “Elementary Algebra” by Harold R. Jacobs ) So, I decided to give her the TAKS 9th grade math test. It was difficult, she did need some help understanding the test (as she doesn’t ever do multiple choice here at home – you do it until it’s right.) She got a 75% on the test. Since she hasn’t even finished the book yet, I was well pleased. It was an excellent learning experience for her. She had to work, think, and was able to see where she will be headed next in her math career.

Here’s the kicker: According to the information we could find (and it was difficult) her score would put her in the top 15% of 9th graders! She’s only of 7th grade age! Well, good for her! Not everyone can do this and she certainly has academic areas where she struggles-same as everybody. However, then I started looking at what these test scores mean for schools’ ratings.
As evidenced by the chart on this website: http://www.scuc.txed.net/PDFS/Accountability/2007districtratingtable.pdf , for a school to be “Academically Acceptable”, the majority of it’s test taking students must receive between a ~50% (45-60% depending on subject is a passing grade) and a 70% on the TAKS. This is pitiful! So, when I look online and see this rating, I say to myself, “Gee that school has students who made between an ‘F’ and a ‘C’ on THE main test of the year.”

For a school to be “Recognized”, it’s overall scores must be between 75% and 90%. Great. This school has ‘C’ and up students. Okay, we’ve all gotten a ‘C’ at least once.
My point is twofold: 1) As you can see by the requirements of passing this “great standardized test” my child being at grade level is NOT my major goal in my homeschooling. Also, I strongly suspect that in general, these ratings cheat the students and teachers of these schools. Is 50% and up the best we can hope for when education is mass produced? Is this a case of quality goes down when quantity goes up? (Though, I have to say that if a school cannot even achieve the “Academically Acceptable” rating, I would be a very nervous parent sending my child to school there.)

In a final note, we gave my daughter the 11th grade exit exam in English and she SMOKED it! So, we’ve decided to just focus on making sure she has the skills she needs to take the PSAT and SAT; the test that will count for something. Knowing how to take tests is a skill even after school. I’ve taken one math and two overall intelligence tests for various jobs I’ve held.

ADHD.Autism.Therapies, OH, MY!!

ADHD THERAPY
*Please note that the following is a result of several years of my own research and personal experience. I am NOT a doctor, I’m just a mom sharing what I have discovered.
I know there is a HUGE debate as to whether or not ADHD really does exist. While I will agree that there is little grace in both the medical (and sadly Christian as well) communities on this topic, here is my opinion:
1. ADHD does exist. In it’s truest form, it is known as a deficiency in the neurotransmitter Dopamine. Stimulant Drugs such as Ritalin, Strattera, etc.. can increase dopamine. So can Phenylalanine which is in many “energy” drinks. Our family’s favorite is “Spark” by a direct sales company called “Advocare”. It has phenylalanie, multiple vitamins, B vitamins and caffeine. If you are curious if your child has ADHD, this could be a route you might want to investigate, but not before you know about the following.
2. Other issues that LOOK like ADHD, complete with it’s agitation and anxiety could be a variety of factors such as allergies (IgE) or intolerances (IgG). Also, many, many people find they cannot tolerate something as simple as…artificial food dye! If anyone came to me and said their child or themselves were having serious trouble focusing or just getting along in a structured environment, I would ask what their diet is.
3. While I’m talking about non-food stuff that’s in our food, I’d like to talk about the following BHT, BHA, & TBHQ. My family does not have a problem with the last one, but the others are pure emotional train wreck for us! The only way to find out is to eliminate it for a minimum of a month, then to reintroduce it to see how everyone feels.
4. After all the junk (especially food dye) has been eliminated, if the results are still not ideal, I would try supplementation. Two major factors which can help are magnesium and zinc. Just a note about magnesium: you can’t OD on it. As soon as stools are extremely loose, back off of it, and that’s about it. The thing to know about Zinc is that it can give you a serious tummy ache. Metagenics makes a “Zinc Drink” which is pretty effective. If you don’t have enough Zinc, it tastes like nothing. If you have plenty, it tastes awful! We knew my son didn’t have enough because the rest of us couldn’t stand the stuff and he had NO problem with it (when he was very particular about anything else that went in his mouth).
5. Another MAJOR wonderful supplement is the Omegas! Omega 3 gets ME through the day without severe agitation. Many nutritionists who want you to pay for their program will tell you to seriously UP your Omega’s. For my daughter, we’ve added Evening Primrose Oil to help her with puberty, but that’s another story.
6. After you’ve done all this, if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on an ADHD specialist doctor (we used Dr. Mary Ann Block out of Dallas and were VERY pleased with her!) try going completely casein (that is the Dairy PROTEIN) and gluten free. I’ll have more on this later. Note: if casein and/or gluten are a problem, the casein takes about two weeks to “get out” of the system and there will be a withdrawl. It can take as much as six months for gluten to leave the body; sometimes longer.
So, my own personal summary about ADHD, first (to introduce a topic in the summary…oops) feel free to investigate ALL autism nutritional and therapeutic information. Much of it would be beneficial. Please remember the following: 1. Remove ALL artificial food dye, this will be in the ingredients at the end and will look like FD&C [color] #1 (or some other number). Please remember to do this with MEDICINE as well. We insist on only food dye free prescriptions and OTC medicines. They are available now. 2. Eliminate some of those nasty preservatives. BHT, BHA, TBHQ to see which might be triggers. 3. Try something to stimulate Dopamine if focus is an issue. 4. If the issue is agitation, try magnesium and/or zinc. 5. Add omega’s (for kids, Nordic Naturals makes a ‘strawberry burst’ fish oil my kids LOVE) Omegas are also great for heart health and brain function. 6. Try eliminating casein and gluten OR go to an allergist.
If you are wondering, our own son is on a gfcf diet http://www.gfcfdiet.com/, he is a diagnosed celiac as well (that took a long time). He also avoids oranges due to IgG testing. No one in my house except my dh has any artificial food dye. My son also cannot have chocolate because he is on the medicine Clonidine. (which lowers both blood pressure AND dopamine – he is autistic, not adhd). We are under the care of a dietitian. After very careful and thorough evaluation by our neurologist, he is also on a number of medicines which truly help him to have the tools to function as a happy child.
My daughter is casein free due to the same testing. She can have spark, but my son cannot. She and I both react terribly to artificial food dye with only a few exceptions.

Response to Dr. Phil Homeschooling Show

Below is the letter I sent to Dr. Phil. He did a show on homeschooling which almost tried to be positive, but then was a setup. It was definately a show for ratings. I'm fairly certain he did it to elicit a response, and he got one. Many, many people have blogged and written. I'm using his show as an excuse for a blog entry on homeschooling: enjoy!

Dear Dr. Phil,
I should say, my poor, dear Dr. Phil. I am so sorry that you chose to do a show about homeschooling. It is apparent that you lack experience and genuine exposure to the homeschooling lifestyle. While I do appreciate that you have homeschooling “helps” linked to your website, you overall negative portrayal of what is far more than a decision regarding education will only prove harmful to many American families.
Those of us who are decidedly pro-homeschooling usually know how to defend our position, if we even care to do so. Those who are decidedly anti-homeschooling also know how to defend their position. Your show could only hope to help those who are undecided. It did no such thing. While you were sure to show a young lady who did not enjoy her homeschooling experience, you sorely neglected to show one who did. As with any parenting/home situation, there is such a variety of experience that a one-hour show could not possibly cover such a broad topic. For a family considering this avenue, your show would only help to inflame areas of potential disagreement.
There are several areas with which I have issue:
1. Socialization. According to the National Home Education Research Institute www.nheri.org , their research shows that, in general, homeschoolers come out of their developmental and teen years with far superior social skills. They are far more likely to be socially and civically active..sometimes by as much as 70% over their traditional schooled counterparts.
2. Unschooling. Many homeschoolers use a variety of education options in their “school”. The home IS the school. If you were to spend some time at a homeschool co-op and quiz the parents and children there, you would see such variety of education! Some children are very late readers and need the unschooling/hands on approach. (My own children planted a garden with me lately.) In our own home, we use textbooks, videos, competitions, field trips, vacations, biographies, literature, the library, community activities, and just plain old play – really:just like a traditional school would. We also unschool quite a bit. For instance, my children went on a worm-hunt for fun after a rain. When they came inside, we pulled out some books on worms, and looked up pictures on the internet. Most homeschoolers and many traditional schoolers “unschool” – it’s called having a conversation.
3. Homeschooling through High School. Homeschoolers have some very distinct advantages when homeschooling through High School. My daughter is one example in that she is ready and able to begin ninth grade work – she is 12. She is not the exception. Many homeschoolers choose to begin their high school early. If she chooses, she could graduate and begin college early.
a. A second benefit is that she has the flexibility in her schedule to take dual-credit classes if she chooses. She can take classes at the local college for both high-school and college credit. Then she would graduate HS as a college sophomore.
b. Also, due to the flexibility of schedule, the homeschooler is able to begin participating in the real world as soon as they are ready. I know of one young lady who interned at a veterinarian clinic for half of her HS day, and did her schoolwork the other half.
c. Socially-there are many opportunities for homeschooled high-schoolers to interact with their peers. Our own co-op is hosting a spring formal.
Sir, these are just a few issues. In general, the misconceptions and prejudices about homeschooling which pervade the common consciousness are nothing more than hearsay. In my letter, I have not even begun to address the number of situations when homeschooling becomes necessary such as medical and special need situations. Would you put undo strain on those families by accusing them of making a mentally unhealthy decision (with objections easily overcome by the way)? I also did not touch on the fact that many of our nations early leaders were never “formally” schooled (ie. Patrick Henry) or that most of early America was not “formally” schooled – and at that time, we had the most healthy community situation (barring some socially acceptable practices such as slavery) and our nation’s literacy rate was near 97%!
Indeed, I do hope you will reconsider your approach to such a volatile topic. This is an issue which can and has divided families due to the misinformation running rampant in this age of “experts”.
The last and most personal issue is of the “age of experts” in which we now live; many of us (especially those like myself who were latch-key kids) are grateful for the opportunity we have in America to be personally involved in the raising and education of our children. We choose to be involved on a daily, hourly level and to raise our children ourselves. We don’t want the “experts” raising and educating our children.
Thank you for your time and attention.

From Sales Executive to Homeschool Mom

You’ve seen ‘em… The very large family, dresses only wearing, maybe even headcovering having homeschoolers. Well, while I do know many families who have those convictions (and greatly respect their decisions) there are actually many, many different types of people who homeschool.
I have friends who homeschool for some or all of the following reasons:
1. To help their children academically excel
2. To take education at a more natural pace be it accelerated or delayed
3. For religious reasons
4. Due to frustration with the school system
5. For family solidarity
6. Because their child has special needs
7. For the flexibility of schedule (we went to New England-Rev. War, DC-Inauguration, and Disney one year! Another, we had TONS of doctor’s visits for my son-ASD)
8. For a customized, tutorial education
9. Because they move a lot
10. Because they just like their children, love to learn and ENJOY teaching!
Like many homeschool moms, I had a life before homeschooling. And like many moms, that life has helped me very much, though never quite in ways that I expected. As a former Technical Sales Executive, I knew that I always loved sales. I also really loved learning-you have to know a lot about your product to be good. While those things obviously did help me in my enthusiasm for homeschooling (I read everything I could about education and learning styles for about 4 years until I had exhausted the available material) what really helped was…. Learning my client. That’s right, my children are, of course children, but they are the ‘client’ as it were.
If I fail to understand a client, I cannot communicate with them and we have no relationship. The skill of listening to and trying to understand clients became invaluable as a parent. There is no person in the entire world I desire to know, communicate with, and have relationship than my family; my children especially. In sales, I always came in with an agenda- to represent a product to a client. . To achieve my agenda, I first had to get to know my client, ask questions; lots of them, observe, and try to understand how my client was thinking.
In homeschooling, my agenda is to provide my children with academic material, help them learn, and instill a love of learning. With my children, I WANTED to simply go for the “empty vessel” idea where their minds are an empty vessel and I just have to “fill it up”. This approach did not work in a one on one environment. First of all, if they already knew something, boredom and restlessness would take over. Second, if there was little to no understanding, no matter how many different and creative ways I tried, I was frustrated. So, I decided to slow things down a bit. I did a bit of “unschooling” where materials are readily available to see where their interests would lead them. I was not disappointed. Their interests, when give the opportunity to flourish, included Russian History and Political Science for my older child. It included numbers in any fashion for my second child-and we use that to introduce new information. My youngest is just two, but the influence of his older siblings has already infected him. He has a very natural mechanical intuitiveness and is a very tactile learner.
This is a major thing that makes what I do very rewarding, fulfilling and joyful! While we do have workbooks and such in our house, our home is more like one big school experiment all the time. School is ALWAYS in session in one way or another. Veritas!