Because of the decay in the quality of public education over the years, parents have very appropriately lost trust in what public education provides including standardized testing. You know there is a place for virtue in your child’s education; you know that education should challenge your children’s ability to think while supporting their personal growth.
With the rejection of progressive education and a return to classical education, significant good has come. However, the education world has also seen a bit of a loss. In attempts to leave behind all things public education, some parents have also left behind an impactful tool for their children’s education: standardized testing.
Let me explain what I mean.
Classical Education and Feedback
There is a reason you chose classical education. You wanted a comprehensive education that aligns with how children naturally learn and fosters a lifelong love of learning. You wanted your children to learn how to think, not just what to think. What a beautiful thing!
Good education is a constant feedback loop between the student and the educator. The student demonstrates what they understand and what they don’t, and the educator adjusts accordingly. This is why community and conversation are so valuable in a child’s learning environment.
Occasionally, it is necessary to take a step back from the day-to-day and check in on progress, comprehension, and mastery. Quality standardized testing can provide this feedback for your education.
Standardized Testing 101
Standardized testing is a method of assessment in which all students answer the same questions and are graded according to the same standards. This provides an objective comparison point for students from diverse educational backgrounds.
For homeschoolers, standardized testing is a wonderful tool! Educating outside the standardized public school system makes it challenging to find a way to assess students that accounts for variation. Standardized tests are designed to provide an external measure to better understand your child’s progress, comprehension, and mastery.
What Makes It Quality?
Since standardized testing provides a standard method of assessing through an external measure, both the method and the measure matter!
1. Method
- Content
Take the example of CLT assessments. CLT assessments draw their exam content from the Great Books tradition, using passages from quality authors to assess reading comprehension and language arts. Familiar content ensures relevance to your child’s education. - Format
If your child is used to learning at home, an at-home exam is ideal. If they’re accustomed to working on a computer, an online exam may be preferable. Aligning the testing environment with the learning environment minimizes anxiety and supports better recall.
2. Measure
Classical education emphasizes reasoning and logic skills. Choose an exam that tests these areas. For example, CLT exams include analogy and logic questions, which were removed from many other standardized exams.
Some homeschooling families prefer exams focused on foundational skills like language arts and mathematics, avoiding subjects like science or civics that are often tied to specific curricula.
Using Standardized Testing to Support Your Education
The analytics you receive after testing are the primary reason for assessments (outside of fulfilling state requirements). Choose an exam that provides in-depth and comprehensive analytics.
Analytics should show:
- Academic strengths
- Areas for improvement
For example, CLT analytics include:
- Improvement Domains: Highlight gaps in learning.
- Top Domains: Identify strengths, helping you explore potential interests.
Analytics offer insights into details, such as whether a child struggles with vocabulary, comprehension, or understanding analogies.
Remember the Goal
Whenever you test your child, remember:
- Results are not the arbiter of your child’s value.
- Analytics are tools to help you better understand your student’s progress and mastery.
Craft your child’s education using tools like standardized testing to make it the very best for their unique journey!
Exclusive Offer
CC Members: Log in to your CC Connected account for 25% off any CLT exam! Find CC-specific resources on CLT’s CC landing page.
Non-CC Members: Visit CLT’s main website at CLTexam.com
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