Testing

Post 224

Testing in Kindergarten? Yes. It’s a thing. I know that at first it can seem a bit much. But remember, Kindergarten is now what First and Second Grade used to be. Students are learning to read, write, add, subtract, etc. so it stands to reason that teachers need to know where they are in order to plan curriculum and instruct each child.

There are two types of testing…teacher made and standardized. Teacher made is just what it sounds like. Educators come up with ways to see how well the children in their classes are understanding what is being taught. They are usually the same across the grade level and have been proven to be effective. This can include observation such as in a reading group. There are also oral tests where a child demonstrates knowledge of a concept. An example of this that I use early in the year is for a child to demonstrate understanding of 1:1 correspondence by setting a play table for 6 people. They have to figure out how many plates, napkins, glasses they would need to give every person one of each. And there are benchmark tests such as those in Guided Reading. In those a student reads a specific leveled book to the teacher. Depending on the number of errors and answering of comprehension questions, they are either moved up to the next reading level or stay where they are. Primary teachers are very skilled at testing their students in a relaxed non pressure setting. Most children don’t even realize what is happening. I always tell them we are playing one on one and they enjoy our time together . (so do I!😀)

The other type of testing is what you remember. Those tests where you have to fill in the bubbles, etc. In our district and I think in most, that doesn’t occur in Kindergarten but can beginning at least in Third Grade. Kindergarteners, however, are taught to “bubble”…how to fill them in. Personally I think that’s a bit much. It’s very hard for a 5 year old to stay in the bubble and someone always fills in all the bubbles because they “feel sorry” for the ones left out. Lol. But if your older child is taking standardized tests and seems worried, let them know that the tests are usually just for state funding and have nothing to do with their grade on their report card. Teachers try to set a relaxed atmosphere in the classroom during those and give children free time after so you might also emphasize that too!

Hopefully, your little one will take testing in stride, treating it as just another part of the school day. Remember, your attitude will make a difference. So, make sure they are well rested, have a good breakfast, and then send them off with a smile!

Take Care. 🙂