is Sylvan honest -- or give me a free idea

[momma aimee]

I really want to do end of the year testing with my 7.5 yo first grader -- math and reading / phonics would be enough -- to see if he is at or below grade level. just i am worried and curious. I liked the idea of him doing it with someone other than me. I thought of Sylvan but i am not sure they actually do THAT (that is test for grade level or if they only look for weakness and stuff they can sell tutoring for) and I don't know if they are honest, or if they always find a problem. we have problems i know that, but that is not my point -- i want to see where he falls compared to peers.

 

thoughts? suggestions?

[Heather R]

I'm in Canada, so the details might be different, but I was able to arrange to do CTBS (Canadian Test of Basic Skills) through our school board. It was free and I administered it myself, though I could have asked a friend or neighbor to do it.

[momma aimee]

we are living outside our registered school district because DH is on detail. so i don't think i can use my local school as a resource for this. if we were not in travle status i would ask them (had / have a good working relationship with them)

[boscopup]

You could use CAT, ITBS, or SAT10 at home. Our what about doing the DORA/DOMA things? I think HSBC sometimes has them for $15 each. The DOMA may have a different name now, but one was reading and the other math.

[Dahliarw]

Check with your state homeschool organization. There often are places that have evaluations like that specifically for homeschoolers. This place even does it via skype: http://www.nwuntest.com/1-1assessment.html

[mamabear2three]

I wouldn't use sylvan for this - The whole point for testing there is to see what needs improved upon. Not to mention that I would be willing to bet that they are biased against homeschoolers and why put your kid in a testing environment where the test administrator doesn't agree with their schooling choice? (my opinion comes from personal experience in a center, as a professional, not as a parent)

 

My parents used the California achievement test (I think?) with my brother and I growing up to see how we measured against our peers, it cost money but is accurate if you do it properly and you can do it yourself.

[PIE!]

When I was a test administrator at Sylvan about 12 years ago we gave several tests, but the main one for determining grade level was the CAT. I don't know if that's still the one they use, but if you can do the CAT at home it'd save you some $$. Though it varies from center to center, I worked with a very honest center director who didn't have bias that I was aware of against homeschoolers. Based on my experience, if you do decide to use Sylvan, it would be costly, but fine.

[boscopup]

You could use CAT, ITBS, or SAT10 at home. Our what about doing the DORA/DOMA things? I think HSBC sometimes has them for $15 each. The DOMA may have a different name now, but one was reading and the other math.

 

Adding links:

 

DORA: https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/lets-go-learn-reading/?c=1

DOMA: https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/lets-go-learn-math/?c=1

 

The nice thing about these is that it will actually tell you what grade level your child is working at, not a grade level equivalent like the standardized tests do.

[Farrar]

Sylvan is a business. I wouldn't go in there and be like, "What do I need?" because inevitably they'll try to sell you on their stuff.

 

I would just order a standardized test, as others are suggesting, and administer it yourself.

[Pen]

It could depend on what you want. In my state we are required to do end of year tests in certain years with an outside approved test administrator. Sylvan is one that is approved, and the price there is high for a single year and single test, compared to some other possibilities, but, at least here, they have a deal where you can test as many times as you want for a single price, so that comes out good if you use them each time you test. They also can do both the CAT and the Terra Nova here (they suggested that I do CAT at start of year for practice and to see what might need improvement, and then Terra Nova at end to turn in to the state), which are basic tests that would give figures, not just something for Sylvan to sell their services. And it would give practice in test conditions with an outside tester. I have not used them as yet since we got to test at the local public school, but a homeschool friend does use Sylvan and likes it, and I think we will do so next year. Here they certainly have no bias against homeschoolers since as an approved tester for homeschoolers that is a way they get much business.

[mamabear2three]

I'm glad to know the sylvan where I worked was not necessarily the norm with attitudes about homeschooling! I think the homeschool children who went to our center were those few who give homeschoolers a bad name and so the staff had a terrible opinion of the validity of homeschooling. They were shocked to find out I had been homeschooled myself!

[momma aimee]

thanks ladies, i may look into doing the CAT at home -- are the scores pretty straight foward? i remember taking it every year in school but don't remember the scores

[momma aimee]

about the CAT

 

can i give it to him, (actually i think BFF will do it so i am not there, i think he will work harder for "not the momma"

 

all the website says is:

Test Administration

 

• No Bachelor’s Degree Required.
  

 

 

 

 

and

 

• 
   
  

 

 

 

• B.A. or B.S. Degree not required
  
• Test administrator form not required
  

 

 

 

[kdownie]

My mom always did the CAT growing up. I recall the scores always being straightforward. We did it with other homeschoolers, so other moms proctored my test. I don't know how much it cost. I know all the moms didn't have degrees. My mom doesn't.

[momma aimee]

he has never done a "fill in the bubble test"

 

anyone know anything about this book

 

http://www.amazon.com/Test-Prep-Grade-1-Spectrum/dp/0769681212/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367369809&sr=1-5&keywords=test+prep

 

i don't want him to do badly because of the test format

[momma aimee]

i just ordered -- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0769681212/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 -- for Big Brother and when we travel home in July he is going to take the CAT for first grade ...just for momma's benefit so i can see how he is going.

 

I am doing it in July so my BFF can administer it to him. i think he will take it more serious if someone other than momma is there. we only have 3 weeks till we move and i don't want to rush it.

 

we technically school first grade until the end of June anyway,

 

doing it when we are home in July lets us practice testing (the only testing he has ever done has been with PhD for IQ testing) and i don't want him to mess up because of the format.

[Job384]

I recently had my son do the ADAM and the DORA because it was suggested by someone on this board.

 

http://www.letsgolearn.com/lglsite/products/

 

The test is taken online, so you don't administer it. I thought it was great. The results were extremely detailed and helpful to me.