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Testing... The Natural Learning Way
© Beverley Paine We don't believe in 'testing' the children to measure their academic achievement, we think it is detrimental to their self esteem and confidence. However, 'testing' is a natural consequence of life, just as competition seems to be. I find I 'test' my children every day - perhaps a better word would be challenge . I consciously set them little tasks or questions which I know they are fairly able to master. These are always in context, not divorced from some real life activity or situation. Mostly I assess my children's abilities through observing them, and by measuring that against my expectations. I constantly check to see if my expectations are realistic, and if they are tailored to my children's individual needs, not standards set by outside sources. I have found that what was applicable for one child in terms of achievement is totally unrealistic for another. When I gauge these things I like to take into account the holistic picture of the developing child - what all the strengths and weaknesses are. Observing and marking the strengths, by celebrating them in various ways, is an important part of this evaluation process for us. 'Testing', on the other hand, especially in a formal way, focuses more on the child's weaknesses, placing more emphasis on correction, than in pursuing excellence in areas of talent. The children like to 'test' themselves and I don't discourage this. They know about school and employee type tests. I will set them tests if they ask for them, and encourage them to participate in quizzes and puzzles. The best tests are those that are not competitive, or set against a 'standard', but are ones that measure a child's progress against previous achievements. Homeschools can easily make their own tests of this kind. Beverley has written extensively about evaluating and recording home education learning programs. Her Getting Started with Homeschooling includes a chapter with samples taken from her personal records. Click here for a full list of articles and pages on this website. |
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Pioneering members of the home education movement in Australia, Beverley and Robin Paine are passionate advocates of true educational choice for families. They began homeschooling their children in 1986 and three years later started the South Australian Home Based Learners network.
Beverley wrote Getting Started with Homeschooling in 1995-97 and since then continues to write books and booklets on home education. She balances spending time helping home educators with working in her garden and renovating her home, as well as continuing to build her collection of writing on a variety of homeschooling subjects. Beverley maintains an extensive collection of websites as well as several Yahoo groups supporting families teaching their children at home.
In 2007 Beverley joined the HEA and was a committee member for three years during which time she edited and produced the HEA Newsletter, Stepping Stones for Home Educators magazine, annual Resource Directory and other HEA publications.
If you'd like to keep in touch with what Beverley is up to her in her life, sign up for the Homeschool Australia Newsletter or visit her Homeschool Australia Facebook page.nor do they endorse or recommend products (other than their own) listed in contributed articles, pages, or advertisements.