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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
 Posted - 08/19/2001 : 17:23:29
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I'm wondering about the validity of the Iowa test scores and other standardized testing. Here's why - my daughter in 5th grade took the Iowa test and scored in the 96 percentile for 5th graders. The comments to the side of the page state that her level of understanding is consistent with a 9th grader 5 months into the school year. Yet some of her individual scores are only in the 85 percentile. Are these scores curved based on the average or are they staright across the board? Does this mean that we expect less from students or is my kid just off the charts here? Another thought - does this just measure the child's ability to take a test or does it really measure their ability to do the work expected of them?
Thoughts all.
He's YOUR god, they're YOUR rules, YOU burn in hell!
Edited by - Trish on 08/19/2001 17:24:54
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comradebillyboy
Skeptic Friend
USA
188 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2001 : 18:45:15 [Permalink]
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if your kid reads a lot, she should be scoring well on these standarized tests. first she would gain a lot of information, two, she might get used to mental activity. these factors will give her a big advantage on standardized tests.
given the fact that its your child, i suspect she might also be under the influence of intellegent and rational adults.
comrade billyboy |
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Zandermann
Skeptic Friend
USA
431 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2001 : 19:29:51 [Permalink]
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quote:
... her level of understanding is consistent with a 9th grader 5 months into the school year. Yet some of her individual scores are only in the 85 percentile. Are these scores curved based on the average or are they staright across the board?
The grade-equivalent measurement is a weighted average of the individual scores, IIRC. She should have been much higher than 85th percentile in other areas.quote:
Does this mean that we expect less from students or is my kid just off the charts here?
Probably both.quote:
Another thought - does this just measure the child's ability to take a test or does it really measure their ability to do the work expected of them?
Also both. Good test-takers will tend to score better than students who don't take tests well, but the Iowas in particular are generally perceived to be excellent predictors of future work and quite good indicators of general ability.
The student's motivation and the teachers' ability/enthusiasm are also variables, but I've always found Iowas to be very reliable.
"If in the last few years you haven't discarded a major opinion or acquired a new one, check your pulse. You may be dead." |
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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2001 : 18:23:25 [Permalink]
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Actually getting my kid to read is a major chore. She really doesn't like to read unless it's to gain specific information she requires. She's always prefered doing math problems for fun.
I guess the math is a way for her to engage her brain as well. I know she has always been inquisitive and I've done everything I know to do to encourage that - up to and including allowing her to question edicts that I might impose. Forces me to rationalize the why of something and exposes her to that thought process. If she can come up with a rational arguement for changing an edict we change them to a more workable model. Usually involving her in the process. I am unsure if this practice has assisted her in her understanding and encouraged her interests.
He's YOUR god, they're YOUR rules, YOU burn in hell! |
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Zandermann
Skeptic Friend
USA
431 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2001 : 18:51:42 [Permalink]
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quote:
...up to and including allowing her to question edicts that I might impose. Forces me to rationalize the why of something and exposes her to that thought process. If she can come up with a rational arguement for changing an edict we change them to a more workable model. Usually involving her in the process. I am unsure if this practice has assisted her in her understanding and encouraged her interests.
You may be unsure, but I'm not. You've modeled for her how your decisions are made, you've allowed her the opportunity to 'argue' her point of view but held her accountable to provide reasons, and you've implemented decisions that she and you have formulated (showing her that she is partially responsible for her situation).
All those are excellent ways of showing her responsible action and insightful thought...and of assisting her to become a decision-maker...which engages her interest and deepens her understanding.
"If in the last few years you haven't discarded a major opinion or acquired a new one, check your pulse. You may be dead." |
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CJWalter
New Member
1 Post |
Posted - 08/24/2001 : 08:14:32 [Permalink]
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Think of scores of each section as points, I'm not sure how many sections there were on the IOWA tests, but let's assume 2 (math and verbal). If your daughter scored 85 on each section, her total score would be 170 (85 + 85). It's probably the case that there were kids who did better than your daughter in one part and worse on the other part. If there were two other kids taking the test and one scored 90 math and 70 verbal and the other scored 90 verbal and 70 math, both kids would have 160 total points each. Your daughter would rank behind the kids in individual categories, but would rank higher in the over all score. The overall ranking therefore seems to reward students with a larger base of knowledge than just strong knowledge in one area. Hope this is helpful!
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Valiant Dancer
Forum Goalie
USA
4826 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2001 : 10:09:23 [Permalink]
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quote:
I'm wondering about the validity of the Iowa test scores and other standardized testing. Here's why - my daughter in 5th grade took the Iowa test and scored in the 96 percentile for 5th graders. The comments to the side of the page state that her level of understanding is consistent with a 9th grader 5 months into the school year. Yet some of her individual scores are only in the 85 percentile. Are these scores curved based on the average or are they staright across the board? Does this mean that we expect less from students or is my kid just off the charts here? Another thought - does this just measure the child's ability to take a test or does it really measure their ability to do the work expected of them?
Thoughts all.
He's YOUR god, they're YOUR rules, YOU burn in hell!
Edited by - Trish on 08/19/2001 17:24:54
Trish,
As Commradbillyboy points out, your daughter is under the influenece of intelligent and rational adults as well as possibly reading a lot. A healthly dose of curiosity helps. When I was in 5th grade, I had the test. I was reading at a 12th grade level. (Thanks to my mother who used to be a school English teacher and a voracious reading appetite.)
I had learning disabilities when I was younger. The school was convinced at third grade that I would be lucky to graduate high school and would probably pump gas for a living. This in spite of the fact that I could read at the age of 3 and could do basic math at the age of 5. I was struggling because I was having difficulty focusing on the tasks at hand. I later grew out of it. In fifth grade, my folks moved and I was in a different school.
It registers the ability of your child to take a test and the ability to do the work asked. Keep up the good work, Trish.
Edited by - Valiant Dancer on 08/24/2001 10:13:01 |
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James
SFN Regular
USA
754 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2001 : 20:10:19 [Permalink]
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quote:
I had learning disabilities when I was younger. The school was convinced at third grade that I would be lucky to graduate high school and would probably pump gas for a living. This in spite of the fact that I could read at the age of 3 and could do basic math at the age of 5. I was struggling because I was having difficulty focusing on the tasks at hand. I later grew out of it. In fifth grade, my folks moved and I was in a different school.
From what you have told us here, Valiant Dancer, it sounds like you were bored, IMO. You should have been in a higher grade.
The way I see it, christians are godless too...they just don't know it yet. |
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