“Duncan: Tests offer important feedback (Knoxville News Sentinel)” plus 1 more |
| Duncan: Tests offer important feedback (Knoxville News Sentinel) Posted: 22 Mar 2010 09:00 PM PDT Stanines, grade-level equivalencies and national percentiles are not words that are normally synonymous with the approach of spring. But talk to any homeschooling parent in early March and chances are her thoughts begin turning to standardized tests. Except for the blessed few that put little stock in the feedback they give, most of us can't help wondering, "Have I adequately prepared my child for this? Did I choose the right curriculum? How will he compare to others in his grade?" Like many homeschoolers in East Tennessee, my children will be taking the Stanford Achievement Test at the end of this month. But this year, I am much more apprehensive than I have been in previous years. This is the first year I've been completely out on my own, not following a standard curriculum plan, and without the benefit of practice testing at a co-op. I am nervous about whether I have adequately prepared my oldest for her sixth-grade tests. Though I'm not worried about losing my job if any of my students do poorly, I still feel that to some degree these scores are really testing me and my ability to teach them properly. You may not take standardized tests quite so seriously, and may even question their importance. Our ability to homeschool doesn't depend upon test scores (at least not yet), nor do we get government entitlements when the scores are top-notch. Still, standardized tests do have benefits for homeschoolers. First, they validate what we do as a movement. Regardless of the criticism, the numbers are in our favor, showing that homeschooling can stand up to the strictest academic standards. The Homeschool Legal Defense Association reported in "Progress Report 2009: Homeschool Academic Achievement and Demographics" - which compared the test results of some 11,739 homeschooled students from all 50 states who took three well-known tests, California Achievement Test, Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, and the Stanford Achievement Tests - that homeschool students scored an average of 34-39 percentile points higher than public school students in all academic areas tested. Second, testing is a way to get positive or negative feedback on how your homeschool is doing. The results can help you make modifications to your schooling in areas such as curriculum changes or emphasis, or whether to hold a child back or move ahead in a particular subject. It is important to remember that some children are better test-takers than others, and those visual learners will tend to do better on the "fill in the dot" style tests. So in the end, the standardized test is just one component of determining the best teaching method for our children. Lastly, it gives the students a sense of accomplishment, that they've done their best, they've worked hard, and despite what they might think, they have learned something. Heather Duncan is a freelance contributor to the Knoxville News Sentinel. Contact her at features@knoxnews.com.
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| Homeschool track team builds bodies, minds and spirits (Knoxville News Sentinel) Posted: 22 Mar 2010 09:00 PM PDT  Photo by Special to the News Sentinel Running for God track team members do a drill called "karaoke" in which their arms are held straight while their feet weave in and out. According to coach Sofie Bell, this exercise helps build lateral muscles in the legs and coordination.
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Photo by Special to the News Sentinel Last season's Running for God elementary-level fall track team poses for a team photo. First row, from left, are Shalee Riggins, Susan Schaffer, Jada Bell, Jasmine Bell, Braden Fulton, Tara Ryan, Nathan Bradford and Jana Evans; second row, from left, are Nicholas Jordan, George Krenner, Jason Hicks, Anna Hicks, Daniel Magee, Autumn Ryan, Moriah Schaffer, Aidan McLeod and Heather Stewart; third row, from left, are coach Nancy Evans, Matthew Klingerman, JoyAnnah Evans, Jenna McLeod, Emerson Fulton, Nicholas Duncan, Isaac Sikkema, Tyler Bell, Karen Mee and coach Sofie Bell. When Scarlett Cornell of West Knoxville began homeschooling her two children, Boone and Blaise, six years ago, the family faced a challenge: what to do about physical education. "We had tried sports, but my son didn't seem to enjoy or excel at anything in particular. We still needed something to serve as their P.E.," recalls Cornell, who later heard about a homeschool running group that had just started. "I thought running sounded like something they could do forever. With many team sports, when you're done with the season, you're done. But with running, they could continue throughout the year," Cornell says. The group Cornell heard about and her children eventually joined was Running for God (RFG), a track team for Christian homeschoolers. The group was started in 2005 by local runners and homeschool parents Sofie Bell and Nancy Evans, both of West Knoxville. "Five years ago, Nancy and I became concerned about the growing rate of childhood obesity in East Tennessee," explains Bell. "There are a few programs that market exercise programs for children, but the cost is usually several hundred dollars. Many homeschool families are large, so these kinds of programs can present a financial hardship on the family." Bell and Evans worked with Knoxville Track Club (KTC) Youth Athletics to organize RFG as a nonprofit track program that would allow homeschoolers to compete as a team. "In the past, the KTC track program was geared for public schools, but they generously allowed us to join. They acknowledged us as a team, allowing us to get a team score just like a public school," explains Bell. The 10-week RFG season begins in early March and continues through mid-May, meeting twice a week for practice. The cost is $45 per student, which covers race entry fees and a team jersey. Practices prepare students to compete in the Dogwood Classic 5K and Kids Road Mile. This year, the team consists of 40 area homeschoolers. Although many participants use RFG as their physical education, Bell says that is not what it was designed to be. "We don't call it a P.E. class. P.E. is geared toward a short period of exercise and then you're done. We want them to take what they learn and go home and continue exercising through the week," says Bell. In addition to the practices, students are required to do one weekend run at home. Another difference between RFG and traditional P.E. classes is the emphasis on nutrition and character. "We talk about the good things that need to go into our bodies like healthy foods, the proper amount of water, and what we tell ourselves. We also work on encouraging and supporting each other and having a positive attitude," Bell says. Students are encouraged to strive for spiritual fitness as well. The name, Running for God, reflects the team's mission to glorify God. "During our first season, we didn't have a name. One day we did a quick devotional about doing everything we do for God. One of the girls asked, 'If we're supposed to do everything for God, are we running for God?' Everyone agreed we were running for God, so that became our name," explains Bell. An added benefit of the program is the emphasis on family participation. Parents are invited to join practice sessions and run with their children at home. "Families are telling us that they love running as a family on the weekends," Bell says. "Some parents actually run with the kids and some ride a bike while the student runs, but they're doing it together," adds Bell. For more information on Running for God, contact coach Sofie Bell at 865-539-5385. Nancy Twigg is a freelance contributor to the News Sentinel.
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