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Thoughts on Testing
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Schools back and my phone has being ringing off the hook with parents wanting information about testing.
Schools test for different reasons. In many states annual testing is used to assess whether or not children have learned what they were supposed to have been taught. These are called achievement tests. They usually focus on reading, math and other core subjects. In many school districts a cognitive ability test is used in conjunction with an achievement tests. The Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT), for example, is used alongside the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT). The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is used together with the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS). Analysis of the scores from the two tests can help teachers ascertain whether or not children are working up to their potential and provide them with information to help them tailor instruction to best suit the child.
Cognitive ability tests are also widely used to screen children for entry into gifted or honors programs. Usually schools use multiple choice tests which can be conveniently and cheaply administered in groups (the most commonly used tests are the OLSAT, CogAT and NNAT). Some districts and private schools use full IQ tests like the WISC IV or WPPSI. These are expensive to administer because they’re done one on one with a psychologist.
Many teachers tell parents that they can’t prepare their children for these tests. They’re right in a sense. Cognitive ability tests aren’t like spelling tests or math tests. There isn’t a defined set of information that you need to learn. There isn’t a book that you can study and if you know everything you’ll get 100%. They’re more like try outs for a sport. They’re skill based and practicing the skills will pay off in higher performance. Skills can take time to learn but once they’re learned they’re there when you need them.
So what can you do if your child is scheduled to take a cognitive abilities or GATE test?
Expose your child to a wide range of thinking skills in a variety of areas. You’ll get pay off not just in higher test scores now but in more effective learning in the future. Children who can make connections and understand their own thinking processes learn faster and retain more. It’s a benefit for life.
Work on concentration and, for young children, listening skills. Part of the test taking process is staying focused. This can be particularly difficult for young, fluent readers. Prior to 3rd grade tests are designed to be read aloud to children and they don’t see words that they can read themselves.
Recognize that it takes time to build skills. If you don’t have much time you can expose your child to a variety of thinking exercises to warm up their brain and take the edge of any uncertainty they (or you) have about testing. Don’t believe one week study courses promising results. If it was that easy to become gifted the world would be a different place. If you’ve got lots of time don’t put it off. Start now. The earlier you start the better the result you can hope for.
Have fun. Exercising your brain is like exercising your body. You can choose exercises you enjoy that energize you or you can view it as a torturous must do. Your child will learn more if you choose exercises for them that they find challenging and get satisfaction from completing.
Learn yourself. Children like to mimic the important people in their life. Model thinking and learning for your child and talk with them about the exercises they’re doing. You might even like to work alongside them (Buy Mind Benders A1 for your child and try the C1 level for yourself – you might be surprised)
Ask questions. I’m happy to help. If your child finds one area more difficult than others tell me what you’re seeing and perhaps I can suggest something that can help.
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Variety in Thinking Skills Activities
For a variety of activities designed to exercise different parts of the brain you can’t beat the Dr. Funster’s series. Choose from
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Games for Learning
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SET is the best invention since chess if you want to improve your child's thinking ability! When I taught gifted students in grades 2-8, they would beg to play it. Kids would say over and over, "It''s hard, but it's fun". I read that it is an activity where the right brain and the left brain work together. The best thing about it is that it is not dependent on age or reading ability. There are 6 year olds who could beat me, and there are adults I can beat. A group of all ages can play together competitively, and no one has to hold back. Also, it is very light and portable for travel, or for just having handy if people are bored.. I take the cards out of the case, put a rubber band around them, and put them in my bag.
Sometimes the simplest ideas make the best games. It may be just a simple card game, but Set has won seven best game awards and recognition by Mensa. The "cards" in Set have symbols with four features: shape, color, number and texture. The goal is to pick sets of three cards based on a single-but subtle rule: Each of the four features must be the same on all three cards, or different on each card. Think it sounds too easy? Set forces your brain to perceive patterns in a new way, and several variations keep you on your toes. Play solo or with a partner for a mental workout like no other.
We have set aside Sunday night as "game night". Quiddler is a great way to encourage our children (ages 8 and 15) to learn new words and to spell correctly. It's also a fun and challenging game for us to play since our 15 year old daughter usually wins! "
-Anne P. |
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Concentration and Listening Skills
For young children you can't beat the for LUK Learning System for developing independent learning and concentration while building core problem solving skills.
 
Add Can You Find Me? for the listening component and you’ve got the resources you need to develop your child’s listening and concentration.
For older children Mind Benders provides practice in slowing down to read every word while teaching how to deduce answers from the information provided (an essential skill for making calculated guesses). |
Refer a friend – Save some Money
Many of our customers find us through referrals from satisfied friends. Tell a friend about us. When they order and provide your name and email address when they check out (there is an area for comments) we’ll send you a coupon code good for $5 off your next order of $30 or more. There is no limit on the number of friends referred. Refer two friends for two coupon codes or three friends for three coupon codes.
Both you and your friend will be entered into a drawing for $50 of product of your choice. Names will be drawn on Sept 10.
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Customer Feedback
Thank you for your thorough guidance regarding my daughter's preparation for her GATE. You were right on target with what books to use. Not only did she pass the test with only one weekend to prepare, she was the ONLY ONE in her 2nd grade who passed the test. Exposing her to the materials was astounding. The books allowed her to see such different perspectives on everything and learning ways to solve problems. I am so excited in having her use the other books in the summer. I will definitely be buying more books from you as soon as we are done with all the books. A Truly Appreciative Parent, CA
"The Dr. Funster’s series is fantastic! Oral activities, written activities…a great variety of short fun activities!" -Mari, Cheyenne, WY
"A recommended back-to-school resource." -Learning™ Magazine
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