Frustrated with standarized testing
By dorannmwin
@dorannmwin (36392)
United States
February 16, 2011 3:28pm CST
Kathryn is in second grade and is eight years old. She was marked by her school as being gifted in kindergarten. This year we had her tested for acceptance into the county's gifted and talented cluster. She failed the test, but is still operating on a fifth grade level at this point in time.
I know that it was the fact that she can't handle standarized tests the same as I did when I was in school. They absolutely befuddle her (I know this from her multiple choice homework that she has from time to time).
Well, I don't know where to go with her education because she is constantly complaining that she is bored at school. She often complains that she is sick and when I ask her about it she informs me that she is just bored. I really don't know where to go next with her because I don't know if we can handle ten more years of this.
Private school is out of the question financially and if we were to decide to go with home schooling for at least a year, I wouldn't even know where to begin with that.
Please help me, I'm open for any and all suggestions.
2 people like this
10 responses
@rameshchow (4426)
• India
17 Feb 11
The school is a place where the student(a common kid) mind is improved.
The school is equal to a temple.
The shining of a human mind is a great holy work, that have to do in a school environment.
The teacher position is a honoble position in the society. He must evaporate the student's fear and to create the creativity.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Feb 11
I think that might be where the problem comes into play. Teachers are teaching children to take tests and I really think that it is important for children to learn to think independently.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
22 Feb 11
If only I would be able to find a teacher that was really that way and not so much mixed up with the politics that are now involved in the field.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Feb 11
So are you wanting to get her skipped? And is the school not open to that? I saw somebody suggest homeschooling. Is that an option? Or maybe there is a private school that does scholarships?
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
18 Feb 11
I bet if you did a little Googling about homeschooling in your stated you'd find a lot of good information (and some bad lol).
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
22 Feb 11
I've found a lot of information about homeschooling, but what it does is to really overwhelm me because there is so much and such differing information.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Feb 11
I don't think that we would qualify for scholarships for any of the private schools around here. However, I am not opposed to homeschooling, I just don't know where to start if that was what we wanted to do.
1 person likes this
@eshaan (6188)
• India
22 Feb 11
I don't know about the education patterns in your country, but here most of the parents send their kids to private schools and we get nice tutors who coem home and give special attention to the children, but yes we have to pay separately for it ..what are these standardized tests?....are they like exams which are held yearly or half yearly or quarterly?....you can try some play-way method to teach her things and develop her interest in studies....
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
24 Feb 11
The public schools in our area are one of the best school districts in the country. There are some private school options in our area, but they are very price prohibative. In fact, if I was to opt to send Kathryn to a private school, her monthly bill for schooling would be more than our mortgage payment.
@invisiblelady (1655)
• Philippines
19 Feb 11
Ow!!! That's so cool. I mean you're child is awesome!!! I don't know anything about this. But I hope you'll be able to get the information and help you needed for her.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
22 Feb 11
I have faith that I will be able to find out the information that I am seeking for Kathryn. I just want to be able to do what is best for her.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
19 Feb 11
I think home schooling is a better alternative. I am not an expert, but I think there are many resources that could be found online.
If our kids are really gifted, I think it is really better if we take them out of regular classes. So as not to stunt their development.
The only problem, is to ask yourself if you are willing to devote or spend with your kids. Otherwise we'll just be, like you said, frustrated.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
22 Feb 11
I would be willing to devote the time to her that she would require if that would happen to be the route that we decide to take for her. As of right now, I really don't know what we are going to end up doing.
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
16 Feb 11
I am not a parent, so I can't really give your any useful suggestion with this one. As a parent, you are in a learning process as well as other parents too right? So, the best way to go with it is encourage her, and motivate her to like school, make her know the importance of it. I think most children love to play, that is no doubt.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Feb 11
You are very right that being a parent is definitely a learning process. I learn something new every day since the time that I became a mother. The thing that frustrates me though is that I want to do the best thing for my children and sometimes I feel like I'm not good enough.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
18 Feb 11
I had a similar problem, I was so bored in school, I felt like I was being babysat.
All through high school this was so, but then college came around and it was wonderful, I loved to learn and did very well. Right now there are so many classes on line and outside of school that you should be able to find something that fits her. Now is a great time for her to find music, languages, art and if she's into physical things gymnastics or dance. I loved horses and where we lived I could take professional lessons in riding. Maybe she is a girl that would love to be in one of the clubs, there are many service clubs that start young, girl scouts is the first one that comes to mind. Look closely and see if you can find a talent or interest that she can pursue outside of school. Blessings
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
22 Feb 11
We have done Girl Scouts but we ended up sitting out this year because there wasn't a troop at her school and I left a message with the council to find a troop for her and I never got a return phone call. A lot of the other activities for children are more for children that are a year older than she is right now so as of now our options are pretty limited.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
16 Feb 11
I see that you are from the US, so I am sure the public school system has a Board of Education. You can call the Board of Ed and place an appeal. What this will do is have the entire board re-evaluate her grades and there will be re-testing. As tax paying citizen, they must listen and will.
It is however a process but you have to follow-up and what that does is several times a week she is picked up by a specific school bus and take for special classes in a higher area. It is worth looking into and it is available to you. If in fact she is higher gifted then her age level then she will enjoy it as she will be not only challenged but learning more.
Take a look at that as I do have a friend who works in this area and she had recommended this to others I know.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Feb 11
She does get the gifted education at the school that she is in right now, but it is something that is only for an hour a week. The program that I was hoping that she would be able to get into is all the time gifted education. I might have to look into getting her retested.
@wiggles18 (2506)
• Canada
16 Feb 11
Have you thought about homeschooling. Could be a time constraint with that though....
Extra books, puzzles, brain-teasers would be a good start at the moment.
I wish I had had more brain stimulating things around me when I was growing up. The educational system is totally flawed. Everyone goes at a different pace. Forcing a brilliant child to stay behind with "average" people is like putting a ball and chain on a cheetah, to slow it down.
School isn't so much for educating as it is for assimilating, trying to make one easy to control group of individuals. They strip people of their uniqueness, telling them to do certain work, when really they want to focus on other work(like wanting to do more math instead of English).
I also do not like how the grading system is set up...
I've rambled enough, for now...
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Feb 11
We've always done little workbooks during the time off of school to keep her in that mode. Home schooling is definitely not out of the question. The thing is I don't know where to start if we decide to take that avenue.
@asyria51 (2861)
• United States
17 Feb 11
I too am frustrated with them. I feel that we are not giving the students a chance to think or problem solve, because we are just shoving information down their throats and expecting them to give on right answer instead of thinking through a problem and working it from different ways.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
18 Feb 11
That is the main problem that I have with them as well. I've come up with a viable solution, but it will take more time to do in this way. My thought is that people should be given the questions first and have the opportunity to work through them. Then with that in hand they should be able to look at the answer sheet with the scantron and fill in the correct answers from there.
