Testing ability

[ReadingMama1214]

DD (turns 5 in a few weeks) is currently in half day preschool and we aferschool for reading, math, and whatever interests her (science, art, weather, etc.). DD is bright, but I am not sure that I would label her "gifted" or that we will pursue gifted education formally. My main desire is that she is challenged and able to pursue her passions in school. She is reading on about a mid first grade level and does well with early math. 

 

Our district offers advanced kinds for kids who have mastered a lot of the concepts taught in kindergarten. Numbers, counting, letters/sounds, positional words, description words, etc. They use the Bracken School Readiness Assessment. It doesn't test intelligence, just school readiness. To get into the program the student needs to score 90% (90% above the rest of their peers). I hadn't put much stock into it. DD is bright, but doesn't test well. In 2015 on her first preschool assessment she missed a good chunk of the letters, and was reading a month later. She knew the letters at home, but didn't do well with the one on one assessment. This has been something her teacher noticed as well (She's had her for 2 years now). She'll show the ability in class, but not assess well one on one. She tends to get nervous and confused and distracted. The day of the assessment, DD fell asleep on the way there and then was incredibly nervous going off with the group to do the assessment. I was not expecting DD to do well and was not shocked when her score came back and she didn't get accepted.

 

However, I was shocked when DH said how surprised he was that DD tests so poorly. In my mind she is a preschooler who tends to be nervous in new social situations and doesn't like to be told to perform. DH seems to think that she needs to learn to test well.

 

Has anyone else had a kid who doesn't test or assess well? My only concern with this is that when she starts K she will be assessed and placed accordingly. Most schools that we are looking at for K do an initial assessment the summer before school starts. 

[Dmmetler]

When she's in K, her teacher should notice that she has the skills, and move her accordingly. It really is not uncommon for K kids to be shy in unfamiliar situations, and a lot of kids have big jumps. In addition, her current teacher should be asked to do a form and can give an evaluation on her current skills.

[ReadingMama1214]

When she's in K, her teacher should notice that she has the skills, and move her accordingly. It really is not uncommon for K kids to be shy in unfamiliar situations, and a lot of kids have big jumps. In addition, her current teacher should be asked to do a form and can give an evaluation on her current skills.

Her current teacher does do a form. For her personal assessment for DDs class and for the advanced K. However, the test, not the teacher assessment determines admission to the program. Which I don't mind her not doing. Our top 3 school choices didn't even offer the program.

 

That's what I hope will happen in K. We haven't had our teacher conference yet and I'll see how dd performs in school. She says she never reads in school, so we shall see...

[Guest]

Is the 1:1 testing done in public, in view and hearing of the other students?

Who does the 1:1 testing?

 

Not uncommon for a tester to not establish a rapport, and to use terminology unfamilar to the student.

Not uncommon for a student to hold back when knowing other students will be upset if they score too high.

[Arcadia]

My oldest does not talk. The teacher administer the test in written form for him as a 4yr 8mth old kindergartener. He did written test for math (write the answers) and reading comprehension (write answers in incomplete sentences). The only thing he has to open his mouth for was the test for reading fluency just to prove he could enunciate. The public school allocate a week for one to one testing every term for k-5th and hire a substitute teacher so that the class teacher can do the testing.

 

My younger would talk so no accommodation needed and he test well as long as it is untamed. He did fail the math section on time and on coins in K but the teacher didn't think it was unusual since older kids around 8 years old still fail those.

[SeaConquest]

I think that it's pretty normal for a lot of kids to test differently than they generally perform -- for a lot reasons. I told my older DS that test taking is a skill in and of itself. Some people are just really awesome at taking tests, despite shallow knowledge; others may suffer from test taking anxiety and have a difficult time with assessments no matter how well they know the subject.

 

I wouldn't be concerned if a 5 year old doesn't test well. But, I can imagine that it would be frustrating not to see her placed appropriately. If my middle schooler was still having difficulty with test taking, I would probably try to assist with teaching that skill set.

Edited November 27, 2016 by SeaConquest

[ReadingMama1214]

Is the 1:1 testing done in public, in view and hearing of the other students?

Who does the 1:1 testing?

 

.

Not uncommon for a tester to not establish a rapport, and to use terminology unfamilar to the student.

Not uncommon for a student to hold back when knowing other students will be upset if they score too high.

The testing for advanced kinder was done 1:1, but in a room with other teacher/student pairs. Each student was with a teacher at a table, with about 7 kids in the same room

 

Her prek assessments are done 1:1. I assume she did better this year on that one, but I never saw the results from the preschool one

 

I don't think dd would care about upsetting the score. She's not aware that she's smarter than some of her friends. She knows they can't read, but she doesn't connect that with ability yet at all.

Edited November 27, 2016 by ReadingMama1214

[ReadingMama1214]

My oldest does not talk. The teacher administer the test in written form for him as a 4yr 8mth old kindergartener. He did written test for math (write the answers) and reading comprehension (write answers in incomplete sentences). The only thing he has to open his mouth for was the test for reading fluency just to prove he could enunciate. The public school allocate a week for one to one testing every term for k-5th and hire a substitute teacher so that the class teacher can do the testing.

 

My younger would talk so no accommodation needed and he test well as long as it is untamed. He did fail the math section on time and on coins in K but the teacher didn't think it was unusual since older kids around 8 years old still fail those.

That does make sense. She does talk, I'm not sure what holds her back. I think it is the question format and nervoursness. With the test she did, they only accepted on answer. So if they asked it before it rained it was dry, (blank) it rained it was wet. They'd only accept the term "after" and no other antonym for before. So very specific answers needed. Which I can see throwing her off.

[Arcadia]

So very specific answers needed. Which I can see throwing her off.

Your child need an experienced evaluator to do one to one testing. Else it would be hard to get any meaningful achievement tests results. If you need her to be in school next academic year, I'll splurge on a private IQ test with someone used to evaluating 2E kids.

 

My kids public school teachers never expect "textbook answers" or my kids would have failed English.

[ReadingMama1214]

Your child need an experienced evaluator to do one to one testing. Else it would be hard to get any meaningful achievement tests results. If you need her to be in school next academic year, I'll splurge on a private IQ test with someone used to evaluating 2E kids.

 

My kids public school teachers never expect "textbook answers" or my kids would have failed English.

This isn't the expectation of the evaluator, but of the test they use. I looked up the test online and it is very specific about the answers required.

 

She'll go to school next year (no option to homeschool until 1st or 2nd), but most likely not at the schools that offer advanced Kindy. Most likely a classical charter or an immersion language charter. We don't really need IQ testing right now since we aren't necessarily pursuing gifted education. Most schools were looking at differentiate for reading and math.

[Arcadia]

This isn't the expectation of the evaluator, but of the test they use. I looked up the test online and it is very specific about the answers required.

Unless it is a bubble answer sheet or on computer, many teachers are flexible when grading answers and some will rephrase the question if it is ambiguous.

That is why my oldest does better on open ended tests than multiple choice tests.

[SKL]

I'm not sure how you'd prepare a kid for a one-on-one test.  I could understand test prep for the paper-and-pencil ones (filling in the bubbles, understanding what an analogy question is).  With one-on-one, it seems more important that your daughter feel comfortable in the testing situation.  It might help to practice at home with certain "show what you know" games, but that will only be part of the puzzle.

 

In the future, if she has to do a test like that again, I would look into how they plan to bring out the child's best work, how they will make her feel comfortable and engage her.  Whether you can influence any of that, I don't know, but maybe it could play into your choice of how to move forward with your daughter.

 

She may just naturally open up as she gets older.  I think a 6yo is more confident and talkative than a 5yo, so maybe time will fix this.

 

My 9yo is a most unpredictable tester and I have largely given up on any test showing what she knows, LOL, so I might be the wrong person to ask.  :P

[ReadingMama1214]

I'm not sure how you'd prepare a kid for a one-on-one test. I could understand test prep for the paper-and-pencil ones (filling in the bubbles, understanding what an analogy question is). With one-on-one, it seems more important that your daughter feel comfortable in the testing situation. It might help to practice at home with certain "show what you know" games, but that will only be part of the puzzle.

 

In the future, if she has to do a test like that again, I would look into how they plan to bring out the child's best work, how they will make her feel comfortable and engage her. Whether you can influence any of that, I don't know, but maybe it could play into your choice of how to move forward with your daughter.

 

She may just naturally open up as she gets older. I think a 6yo is more confident and talkative than a 5yo, so maybe time will fix this.

 

My 9yo is a most unpredictable tester and I have largely given up on any test showing what she knows, LOL, so I might be the wrong person to ask. :P

Thanks. That's good advice. My husband and I agree that this test is weird in that it expected specific answers and was not a great situation.

 

There will be a general assessment for K depending where she goes. 1:1 with the teacher. I may bring examples of things she can write and read.

 

The Spanish immersion school might be different. They focus on Spanish language acquisition first and foremost and I'm not sure they differentiate for math. Reading is learned in Spanish before English so this won't be an issue

[Have kids -- will travel]

This isn't the expectation of the evaluator, but of the test they use. I looked up the test online and it is very specific about the answers required.

 

She'll go to school next year (no option to homeschool until 1st or 2nd), but most likely not at the schools that offer advanced Kindy. Most likely a classical charter or an immersion language charter. We don't really need IQ testing right now since we aren't necessarily pursuing gifted education. Most schools were looking at differentiate for reading and math.

 

It sounds like a bad test if your example is indeed indicative of the requirements. As well, I wouldn't worry about having a child who tests poorly at this age; as other have pointed out, 1:1 testing depends so heavily on the tester that your child may have no problem with testing as an older child with a written test.

[ReadingMama1214]

It sounds like a bad test if your example is indeed indicative of the requirements. As well, I wouldn't worry about having a child who tests poorly at this age; as other have pointed out, 1:1 testing depends so heavily on the tester that your child may have no problem with testing as an older child with a written test.

I agree the test is weird. On our results It gives examples of questions as well and stated they were looking for one specific answer.

 

I told dh that oral quizzing is entirely different than written test. I honestly think 5 is too young to worry about test skills. I plan to make sure that I talk to whoever does her K assessment and let them know of DDs reservations.

[EndOfOrdinary]

After years of targetted work, Ds got over rather debilitating test anxiety. I agree with your husband to some degree. Depending on where your daughter decides her goals are going to be headed, she might very well need to learn how to take tests. That was the case with my son.

 

Five is a bit young to be deciding the fate of the future for any kid. Perhaps your Dh is placing his fear that she is not normal (a common theme for parents of gifted kids) into a tangible skill? It is much easier to "correct" something you understand, than to be placed in the ambiguity of young giftedness. It gets easier (? maybe you get used to it as a parent? maybe it just changes?) as they get older. I distinctly remember the fear though. Wanting to understand, plan, and control so much of the unknown about my small person so I could keep him safe.

[Arcadia]

Five is a bit young to be deciding the fate of the future for any kid. Perhaps your Dh is placing his fear that she is not normal (a common theme for parents of gifted kids) into a tangible skill?

Some public school gifted program starts in kindergarten so kids are evaluated prior to start of kindergarten. My friends kids who are 2E benefited from early intervention and evaluation. They would be thought of as slow or hyperactive instead of 2E otherwise and ability grouping differentiated wrongly.

[ReadingMama1214]

Some public school gifted program starts in kindergarten so kids are evaluated prior to start of kindergarten. My friends kids who are 2E benefited from early intervention and evaluation. They would be thought of as slow or hyperactive instead of 2E otherwise and ability grouping differentiated wrongly.

This isn't a gifted program. The GATE program starts in first and has its own test. This program is primarily for kids who have mastered K concepts such as letters/sounds, descriptive language (above/behind/etc), color and shape recognition, numbers and counting, etc. They emphasize that it is not gifted testing or a gifted program and that many gifted kids don't get in. getting in doesn't equate giftedness.

 

I'm not 100% sure dd is gifted. She's bright and slightly ahead of grade level than her peers, but nothing astounding. She has some sensitivities, but they don't interfere with daily life or hinder her. We'd pursue testing if she needed accommodation, but so far she hasn't needed that.