joyfulhomeschooler Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 My 3rd grader will be taking the CAT6 or TerraNova in a few months and I want him to have some practice with testing before hand. Any ideas on what test prep I should get? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjgrubbs Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 I just bought Spectrum test prep through Timberdoodle. It is reasonably priced. Not sure if it's geared for your test or not. I'm curious when one should start using such a program - a few weeks out before test? a month? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joyfulhomeschooler Posted February 14, 2012 Author Share Posted February 14, 2012 I just bought Spectrum test prep through Timberdoodle. It is reasonably priced. Not sure if it's geared for your test or not. I'm curious when one should start using such a program - a few weeks out before test? a month? I've heard it's good to start a few months before and practice for about 10 min a day. Not sure though since this is our first time :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodland Mist Academy Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 I've heard it's good to start a few months before and practice for about 10 min a day. Not sure though since this is our first time :) :iagree: We use Spectrum and Scoring High TerraNova Cat. We use them even in the years we don't test. 5-10 minutes a day is all it takes. When dd nears high school we will switch to SAT/ACT prep and increase the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joyfulhomeschooler Posted February 14, 2012 Author Share Posted February 14, 2012 :iagree: We use Spectrum and Scoring High TerraNova Cat. We use them even in the years we don't test. 5-10 minutes a day is all it takes. When dd nears high school we will switch to SAT/ACT prep and increase the time. Do you feel then that these tests help them with not just content ( I'm not really worried about content) but with the set up and process of the testing experience for the TerraNova Cat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErinE Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 I think it helps when you give feedback for incorrect answers to "trick" questions. When my ds was taking the exam, I could tell he was picking the first possible answer, not the best answer. In reading comprehension, he was also using his outside knowledge to answer questions. After he finished and the exam was sent off, we talked about checking every answer before making a selection. I also had to caution him that he could only use the information provided in reading paragraphs. We are using Spectrum this year to work through the different parts and build up his test-taking skills. There's an element of gamesmanship in standardized testing that I dislike. However, the testing is required and since he might go back to ps, it helps to have a measure the school can understand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodland Mist Academy Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 Do you feel then that these tests help them with not just content ( I'm not really worried about content) but with the set up and process of the testing experience for the TerraNova Cat? Yes, I think test prep helps with understanding the set up and the process of taking the TerraNova Cat. I think it helps when you give feedback for incorrect answers to "trick" questions. When my ds was taking the exam, I could tell he was picking the first possible answer, not the best answer. In reading comprehension, he was also using his outside knowledge to answer questions. After he finished and the exam was sent off, we talked about checking every answer before making a selection. I also had to caution him that he could only use the information provided in reading paragraphs. We are using Spectrum this year to work through the different parts and build up his test-taking skills. There's an element of gamesmanship in standardized testing that I dislike. However, the testing is required and since he might go back to ps, it helps to have a measure the school can understand. :iagree:On one practice test there was a story about birdwatching. My daughter answered the questions based on our method of birdwatching instead of what was described in the story. It was a good lesson for her to learn. Yes, our method is valid and a possible choice, but it wasn't the method used in the story. I agree that there is an element of gamesmanship involved. It pays to learn how to play the game. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joyfulhomeschooler Posted February 15, 2012 Author Share Posted February 15, 2012 Yes, I think test prep helps with understanding the set up and the process of taking the TerraNova Cat. :iagree:On one practice test there was a story about birdwatching. My daughter answered the questions based on our method of birdwatching instead of what was described in the story. It was a good lesson for her to learn. Yes, our method is valid and a possible choice, but it wasn't the method used in the story. I agree that there is an element of gamesmanship involved. It pays to learn how to play the game. ;) Do I get the spectrum test practice or the other one... can't remember the name now. Can you tell me what exactly it is called so I don't wind up ordering the wrong thing? Also was wondering if anyones heard of the Achieving peak performance practice tests? That is another one I was looking at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PollyOR Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 I'll be watching this thread as my 9yo dd will be testing this year too. I can share what we are using though I'm always on the lookout for different ways to prepare. Daily Reading Comprehension (Evan-Moor) e-book There is a passage to read and fill-in-the-bubble type questions. There are 150 passages. Grammar Minutes (Creative Teaching Press) e-book This is used to review grammar skills. 100 daily drills. Advantage Test Prep (Creative Teaching Press) e-book I plan to use this one the month before the test. Normally I don't do test prep with my kids but this particular child needs a little extra help. As much as I dislike the requirement to test, I must admit that it has been a good thing for her...so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 I have my kids do reviews in math on Fridays, and during the Spring semester I pull those from a Spectrum workbook for my oldest. For LA test prep, I have DD work through Evan-Moor Daily Paragraph Editing twice per week plus two lessons per week out of the Curriculum Associates Focus on ... reading comprehension workbooks (unfortunately they appear to be going OOP). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodland Mist Academy Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 Do I get the spectrum test practice or the other one... can't remember the name now. Can you tell me what exactly it is called so I don't wind up ordering the wrong thing? I like them both, but if I had to choose only one I would pick Scoring High TerraNova CAT. There are Scoring High books for various tests, so be sure to get the one associated with the test the child will be taking. Scoring High is more expensive since it also has a teacher's edition. The teacher's edition has the answers and covers test taking tips. If money is tight you could use Spectrum and find test taking tips on-line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodland Mist Academy Posted February 15, 2012 Share Posted February 15, 2012 I forgot to mention that I think using Scoring High is better prep for the actual test taking process. The teacher/parent reads the directions, goes over the sample, etc. which is what will happen in the actual test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joyfulhomeschooler Posted February 19, 2012 Author Share Posted February 19, 2012 So no one has used the Acheiving peak performance test prep then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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