And so far!

I know, I have been a blogging idiot this week. It's been eventful!

Okay, we just did a huge round of unit testing with JM. After three weeks of learning about plants, geography, math and language arts, we had a little series of tests that we submitted. You remember the fiasco a week or so ago regarding the math test, and how JM melted down because he heard me say the word "test".

Learned my lesson! So, for the science test, I pulled it up on the laptop and casually asked, "Hey, JM, what part of a plant is in the soil?" He answered correctly. "What part of the plant holds up the plant?" And so on. And yes, he scored 100%. A little later, I showed him his score, and of course he was baffled about when he took the test. I explained to him I was giving him the test when I was asking the questions earlier. His eyes bugged. He was so proud of his score, and subsequent scores he got in other topics. I told him, I honestly wouldn't let him take a test if I didn't think he knew what he needed to know to pass it. I know, I tricked him, and I won't make a habit of that. I just wanted to show him that if he is calmed down, and just answered what he knows, he will do fine. He's beginning to turn a little corner on tests and starting to see them as a challenge and not an obstacle.

So where are we now? Onto the next sections of all of our subjects. We also sent to CA a portfolio of paperwork so his teacher could see his work. She just graded all of those and posted his scores. Here it is:

Language Arts --A+
Science 2--A+
Social Studies 2--A-
Math 2--B
Phys Ed--Satisfactory

I can tell you right now, his math score would not have been that good in a traditional classroom. Simply because he figured out how to skirt out of math in a group setting. This score also includes the score I helped him biff. His first test was in Social Studies, and I did it wrong, and he got a D. Well, despite me, he has an A. Nice huh?

I also showed the hubbie the scores last night and his reaction was "JM has an A+?!" His reaction was of surprise only because of the hard days we have had, it's a wonder any learning was going on at all.

I know some of my other traditional homeschool buddies out there aren't as compelled as I am by scores. I am a newbie at this. I want to see where my kid is, so this latest round of test assures me we're doing this right. It was quite painless too. It wasn't testing that was a test of how well you knew how to take a test, it was a test on what we had been learning. I also presented the test in such a way to test for information and understanding, not which is more right A or C. I am impressed by CA's ingenuity to make testing of subjects that way. I can see that they want the learning and process to happen, not just presenting and regurgitating.

I am liking Connections Academy a lot.