thundersweet Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 Dd11 is doing this science on her own using the online option. She says she really likes it and never complains about doing it. The problem is that she has failed almost every quizz and test. She's not too far into it but far enough to have done several quizzes and 1 test. How do I help her? Is this a comprehension issue? Interest issue, even though she really likes Mrs Vick. I have thought about letting her use the book and study guide while she takes the quizzes and tests. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 If she's enjoying the class, I wouldn't worry about the quizzes and tests. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joyfulmomSDG Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 I agree! Especially if she can narrate back what she has learned with some accuracy. It may just be a test-taking issue?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thundersweet Posted March 7, 2013 Author Share Posted March 7, 2013 I am definitely inclined to do that. She's the first to complain about my choice of curriculum. She has never tried to get out of her science lesson. That speaks volumes. I'm just stumped about the failing quizzes. I think I'll try letting her use the books in hopes she'll hang on to some of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 Well, she's just in 6th grade. What she does with this year of science doesn't affect the rest of her academic life, KWIM? She's probably getting more out of it than you think, regardless of how she does on tests and quizzes. The fact that she's *enjoying* it is the biggest thing. That means that when she does the science at the high school-level that *does* matter, she'll have warm fuzzy memories of science as an 11yo, and she'll look forward to it, and do better at it because she enjoys it. See? Which is to say (again) that I wouldn't worry about the quizzes and tests, especially not if she seems to understand other subjects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freckles Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 I might look into helping her with test taking strategies. Learning how to take a quiz/test is an important skill. By sixth grade I would expect some retention to be shown via quizzes/tests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 If the quiz and test are meant to be open book, than let her have the book and study guide. If they are meant to be closed book, than it could be that she needs to review the material before the tests and brush up on test taking skills. Also it could be spelling issues depending on how the quiz and tests are marked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom31257 Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 Is this her first time having to take quizzes or tests? If so, it might be that she needs to learn how to study for tests and test taking strategies. I would suggest making vocabulary flashcards to study and doing things like having her outline the chapter. I, too, would expect a 6th grader to be able to study and retain information for a quiz or test. Right now my 4th grader only has tests in math, grammar, and spelling. I'll be adding history and science next year, even if I have to make up my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
................... Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 Kids do need to learn to study, they need to make flashcards, and quiz themselves on Vocab, highlight important points and re-read them. You could try the SQ3R method, too. You have to teach her how this quiz and test thing works. If she was in 3rd grade if say forget it but 6th is a good time to teach her. How about taking out the quiz and looking at it ahead of time so you know what kinds if things will be covered? Then, teach her how to study. Usually, you can save quizzes to study for tests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thundersweet Posted March 7, 2013 Author Share Posted March 7, 2013 I'm not sure that I can look at the test. This is all done online and I'm pretty sure once she starts, she has to finish. I'll take a look today. She definitely needs to learn how to study for a test. Does anone have good advice on that? Maybe something like a workbook we could go through that teaches test taking strategies? I did buy a DVD from the Great Courses called Superstar Student. We just haven't started yet. Arcadia, now that you mention it, I do remember something about the grading system on these tests. I can't remember if they were marked wrong for spelling or just points taken off. She has excellent spelling in real life but I can see her making mistakes while doing this. She is used to failing them so she probably goes through them pretty quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thundersweet Posted March 7, 2013 Author Share Posted March 7, 2013 Calming Tea, I'll look in to SQ3R. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thundersweet Posted March 7, 2013 Author Share Posted March 7, 2013 Ok, I was able to find her quizzes and yes, I can see them. Not before but after. I can see that in some instances, she puts the wrong answer. But, on some with spelling errors they mark as incorrect. She spelled geyser as gyser. I don't agree with marking answers wrong due to spelling. I also see that the instructor marks the page to find the answer for unanswered questions. I think I will print these and sit down with dd over the weekend and find the few she left unanswered. They list the correct answer under the wrong answer so they would definitely make a good study guide. I can print them and put them in her binder to help her study. Thanks everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom31257 Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 I'm not sure that I can look at the test. This is all done online and I'm pretty sure once she starts, she has to finish. I'll take a look today. She definitely needs to learn how to study for a test. Does anone have good advice on that? Maybe something like a workbook we could go through that teaches test taking strategies? I did buy a DVD from the Great Courses called Superstar Student. We just haven't started yet. Arcadia, now that you mention it, I do remember something about the grading system on these tests. I can't remember if they were marked wrong for spelling or just points taken off. She has excellent spelling in real life but I can see her making mistakes while doing this. She is used to failing them so she probably goes through them pretty quickly. Did her materials come with the student activity manual? It has section and chapter reviews built in. Those workbooks are where BJU has the kids do most practice, study, and review. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom31257 Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 Ok, I was able to find her quizzes and yes, I can see them. Not before but after. I can see that in some instances, she puts the wrong answer. But, on some with spelling errors they mark as incorrect. She spelled geyser as gyser. I don't agree with marking answers wrong due to spelling. I also see that the instructor marks the page to find the answer for unanswered questions. I think I will print these and sit down with dd over the weekend and find the few she left unanswered. They list the correct answer under the wrong answer so they would definitely make a good study guide. I can print them and put them in her binder to help her study. Thanks everyone! You should be able to go in while you are signed in to your teacher account and change her grade for spelling errors. I've not used BJU online since last year, so I'm not sure where to tell you to do that. I really don't like testing online for that reason. Dd did one program that counted a series of answers wrong if they weren't in the same order as the program, even if it didn't matter. I think they assumed parents would change the grade, but I felt it should be programmed to recognized any order. I'm going to be using BJU for a couple of high school courses next year, and I think I'm going with DVD for that reason alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thundersweet Posted March 7, 2013 Author Share Posted March 7, 2013 I did not know you could change the grade. I confess, I just barely skimmed the program. I basically got her set up and let her go. I did get some time this morning to go through and print the quizz pdf's and answer sheets that she has completed so far. I had her retake them and she did great! She said it was fun and could we do more. lol she has taken one test so far. I found that she didn't answer over 1/2 of the questions. Somehow, she didn't see them. I asked her all of the questions today and she did fantastic! I had no idea you could print the quizzes rather than do them online. I think she does better that way. Not sure why though. Basically, I was worried for nothing. Thanks y'all! ETA...I just went back in and fixed everything. Her score is now an A+. Yay! Far cry from the F staring us in the face. I still have no idea why she left so many questions unanswered. She claims she didn't see them! She clearly knew the answers today. Oh well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
................... Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 That's Awesome!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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