"Evaluation Time: What Are My Options?"
By Jacqueline W.

Many parent educators approach the annual evaluation of their children with a lot of questions. Should I have my child tested? Do I have to? What will a test tell me? Can the test help me to address my child's weak skill areas? All of these are good questions, but the first question any parent educator should ask is: What do I want to learn about my child from this evaluation? If the parent feels comfortable with the child's progress and confident of the skills that the child possesses, then an informal assessment of the child's portfolio may be all that is necessary. If the parents would like to reassure themselves (or others) that the child compares well with other children of the same age or grade, then the best choice would be a formal assessment with a nationally normed achievement test. If the parent is new to home education or is in doubt about the skills to teach to meet the needs of her child, then a diagnostic test can give a detailed list of skills that the child has mastered and those that need to be taught.

Remember, the evaluation is a good opportunity for the parent to learn about her child from an objective outside source. All families have different needs. As the parent educator, determine what your needs are from this year's evaluation. Then you can decide which type best meets your needs. EE-CAT (Educational Evaluations, Consultations and Tutoring) offers all three types of evaluations locally at a reasonable cost. For more information or to set up an appointment, please contact info@eduevals.com.


Return to Articles Page