Posted on 07/26/2006 7:14:10 PM PDT by The Grim Freeper
Well, my Homeschooled 13-year-old daughter (going into the 9th grade) got her Iowa Test results back, and I would like the help of anyone out there (an educator, a professor, etc.) who might be able to tell me what you can make of them, to let me know. I am divided as to whether I should be ecstatic or concerned.
In the Cognitive Abilities Test, my daughter's Composite National Percentile Rank was 90, but this is due in great measure to her verbal ability which was 99 NPR, which means that "compared with other eighth grade students nationally, Emily scored higher than 99 percent." So, I get that. I get that 99 percent is good--very good--and about that I am elated.
She is 80 in quantitative (above average) and 71 (somewhat above average) in non-verbal. I don't even know what non-verbal is, but if it is the folded paper thing, I guess I may not stress too much about it, although it would be nice if she could bump it up a bit. If anyone could tell me what that part of the test indicates, I would appreciate it very much.
Quantitative, I think should could do better with more "tutoring." She "seems to be well above average in overall cognitive ability." But I could be all wet, because, as I have been led to understand, either you have some thinking abilities or you don't. What do those who know think? Is there a way to pull up those scores, to help her develop that type of thinking?
It is interesting that she did very well in Math Computation (98 NPR), but not as well in Math Problems and Data Interpretation (56) and Math Concepts and Estimation (80). What is the difference? I see she needs help in Measurement, Geometry, and Order of Magnitude, as well as Interpreting Relationships (Math), those areas brought her scores down considerably.
But here's the funny thing...She just had 8th grade Geometry and an Introduction to Algebra and Trig (she's doing the Bob Jones HomeSat program), and she got an A-. And we didn't cut her any slack in getting those grades. She earned them.
What does it mean she when she doesn't score well in Measurement? Interpreting Relationships? Order of Magnitude? What can I do to help her?
She also did not do as well as they would have expected in Social Studies (68) and Science (63), but that is because Life Science, which she studied last year and in which she scored very well last year, she didn't study this year, and my daughter just completely forgets everything she has learned once she "doesn't need it anymore."
She does it with piano, she does it with violin. She masters a song--plays it beautifully, and completely forgets it after she has started working on mastering the next pieces.
I guess this has something to do with retention, but she has memorized over 1,000 Bible verses, can recite 1-3 chapters at a time (if she is working on them), memorizes 6-8 page music works (if she is working on it at the time), which tells me she really doesn't have a problem with retention. It is just selective retention. She is also the type of person that makes lists and checks stuff off as she accomplishes them. It gives her great satisfaction. Has since she could make lists.
In the Basic Skills Test, her Reading Total is 97, Her Language Total is 99, Her Math Total is 68, Her CORE TOTAL is 94. Than Social Studies is 68, Science is 63, Sources of Information is 86, COMPOSITE is 85, and Math Computation is 98.
Why would she score so High on Math Computation (98) and yet receive such an abyssmal socre in Math? Science, I also don't get. It is a more difficult subject for her, but she definitely is learning things through Bob Jones that I did not learn in the 8th grade when I was in public school, and she got a B+ this year. And Social Studies--that was the biggest shocker of all, since she got an A. She knows WAY more than I ever will know. But I guess Social Studies can be kind of subjective when you're homeschooled, and you're taking a nationalized test.
Any thoughts? I would really appreciate your insights. Thanks!
P.S. Haven't seen the SAT scores yet.
Learning from you, she will learn how to deal with real life and learn from it as well.
The bean-counters are trying to recover their lost ground in the indoctrination they disguise as "education".
The education equation: NEA = CYA
Maybe you've been teaching her real Social Studies/History and Science whereas the Iowa tests have been re-written to reflect revisionist history where George Washington and the whitey Founders are nothing but racist slaveowners and homosexuality is taught as normal, natural behavior?
she's fine...
This link has a basic breakdown on what is measured.
http://www.bjupress.com/services/testing/brochures_catalogs/understanding_cognitive.pdf
Remember, professional educators found young Einstein "unimpressive, mediocre". Your girl is fine, relax.
Smart kid with good teachers, so it would seem.
regarding post 4, that chip on your shoulder looks like a 2 by 4.
I don't know.
I NEVER took those tests seriously :)
DUH!
My guess is that she is a hard worker with a good memory, but does not intuitively understand Math so well. As long as she is not going to be an engineer or scientist, it's no big deal (she is only 13, and may suddenly see the intuitive aspects of math -- but probably won't). Her 94 in Core is excellent, and her scores in Reading and Language are outstanding.
There is a home school ping list somewhere on Free Republic. I have seen it once or twice. I'm not too sure how active it is though. Have you managed to connect with other home schoolers on FR or found the ping list?
By the way - congrats on the great scores!
I don't have anything to tell you on her scores, I don't even have children myself. But I wanted to thank you for caring so much about the education and upbringing of your child! I wish more parents cared so much - the world would be a MUCH better place.
You, and other homeschooling parents are insuring there will be competent leaders & productive citizens around in future generations.
Soldier on!
I studied testing years ago. The general take away I can share with you is that the mass of scores are in the 80's and 90's so there is good academic achievement and aptitude.
The only score that jumps out as far outside the group is the 56. It might be worth your time to do some exploration on your own with her about orders of magnitude and estimation, just in your daily activities, like how many miles do you think we can go with this much gas in the tank, or how long do you think it will take us to drive... things like that. If you see her getting better at that, its just a skill that she missed some where along the way.
Thank you so much for your feedback.
Ahhh...and it's from Bob Jones! Thanks!
EXCELLENT advice. You have helped me (and Em) a great deal. Thanks!
Grew up in a "Leave it to Beaver" environment, Waterloo.
Times have changed. I recall being scared to death as a child having the same Nun in Catechism as I had as my teacher in public school, it was frequent.
'Teachers' then were often Nuns, wearing their complete regalia.
They never once at school threw any religion at us, but holy cow, we did learn the 3R's before puberty whereas today a college edumackashun doesn't.
"Haven't seen the SAT scores yet."
She's 13, she doesn't need to take the SAT.
Anyway, her scores sound fine to me. Perhaps the reason why she didn't score as well as you'd hoped in biology (or, I guess "life science" is what the state now calls it) is because, as you suggested, she didn't retain that information from last year. To make sure it sticks with her, keep giving her reviews of the material even after you've finished teaching it. As for "social studies" (the correct name is "history"), I think your theory is again correct. State social studies tests are bound to be different (i.e. more liberally selective) than what would be tought in a conservative household. I'm sure she's good at history, she just doesn't supply the state with what it wants to hear in that field, thus scores lower.
I am a high school student (going into 12th grade), and I have given you the best of my advice on this subject. I hope it was helpful.
The nonverbal is the folded paper stuff. I can't do that well either.
Interpreting relationships is usually the what comes next in the series, for example 1,2,3,5,8,13,21....
Math problems are story problems. Maybe she doesn't set them up right or just not fast enough. Remember the test is timed. Did they give you the number attempted and number right report. obviously your daughter knows her math facts, explaining the very high score on computation.
Did they give you the SAS score at the bottom if the report? If it's over a hundred, you have nothing to worry about. The ITBS SAS score loosely corresponds with IQ.
I hope this helps. Your daughter's scores are fine.
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