Homeschool World Forum

Theodore · Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 7:16 pm Post subject:

Most of the stress comes with having your scores compared with those of your fellow students, however - and the ACT, SAT, CLEP tests, etc. don't have that problem, since all you get is a score and a national ranking. There are also plenty of materials for test prep, and being well-prepared always reduces stress.

In any case, college courses generally involve quite a bit of testing, so if tests stress you out, you need to practice taking them. Test-taking stress mostly stems from lack of self-confidence, and even a year or two of homeschooling gives you time to improve your education and build that self-confidence back.

On a personal note, I often felt I was going to do badly on a test, then I completed it in 2/3 the required time and scored 90% or better. A small case of nerves isn't necessarily fatal, so long as you studied hard.
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The Farming Game - Software Edition for PC, Mac, Linux
The board game has sold over 350,000 copies worldwide, garnered many awards, is used by over 2,000 schools, and is used extensively by homeschoolers.

StellarStory · User Joined: 15 Apr 2007 Posts: 472

I agree about working on test stress. That's been one of my goals with my son since we started home school at the end of his fourth grade year.

I had him take a standardized prep test every Friday when we first started out. I did that so he would get over his fear of testing and find out he was capable.

Years ago I started having both my kids do the SAT question of the day each day instead.

These days they are both pretty confident test takers. He still hates tests but he knows he can do well on them. His is quite proud of himself. He feels he has the whole world to pick from for his future. That, is a beautiful thing IMO.

Ramona · User Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 411

Theodore · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 3:52 am Post subject:

Well, I suppose if they are ok with a high school or associate's degree, the SAT and ACT aren't necessary. Even two-year college courses will involve testing, though.
_________________
The Farming Game - Software Edition for PC, Mac, Linux
The board game has sold over 350,000 copies worldwide, garnered many awards, is used by over 2,000 schools, and is used extensively by homeschoolers.

Ramona · User Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 411

Excuse me, but that remark is condescending.

There are many alternative ways to get a post-12th-grade education. Check out the articles in the archives. There are places that will take an application from anyone over 21 and figure out whether what they've done in their life qualifies them for a degree. There are places that allow students to do absolutely everything by correspondence or online, including taking tests at your own pace with a very long deadline or time limit so that if you get anxious (which, BTW, is a physiological condition, not just worrying) you can stop and come back to it after you recover. There are places that "test" by oral interview or portfolio or project or thesis.

And that's only dealing with ways of getting a college degree. There is far more to getting a good education than merely obtaining a degree. Self-taught students and well-read students and apprentices and interns often go far beyond the education that a mere degree indicates.

There is a false belief in our culture that college is the repository of all knowledge and a degree is the be-all and end-all of education. The truth is that getting well-educated requires far more than degrees cover.

Ramona

Theodore · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 8:32 pm Post subject:

I did consulting work as a programmer long before I had my college degree, and nobody cared, but even an entry-level programming job requires a bachelor's. I agree with you that a degree has very little intrinsic value, but what really matters is the value other people place on it. A dollar bill may be just a piece of paper, but you can still buy things with it.
_________________
The Farming Game - Software Edition for PC, Mac, Linux
The board game has sold over 350,000 copies worldwide, garnered many awards, is used by over 2,000 schools, and is used extensively by homeschoolers.

Ramona · User Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 411

As a home-schooling mom, my goal for my kids' education is not that they be marketable.

My goal is that they be educated.

Anyone can make money doing anything.

Ramona

Theodore · Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 1:06 pm Post subject:

A good education is more important than being marketable, but there's no reason why the two should be mutually exclusive. There may be an overemphasis on college degrees these days, but this is the world we live in.
_________________
The Farming Game - Software Edition for PC, Mac, Linux
The board game has sold over 350,000 copies worldwide, garnered many awards, is used by over 2,000 schools, and is used extensively by homeschoolers.

StellarStory · User Joined: 15 Apr 2007 Posts: 472

My goal is that they be able to make good decisions in life, be comfortable with themselves, contribute to the world and be able get the job(s) they seek.

I see a good many parents who seem to think a GED is good enough. I don't agree. At least not for my children. I want them to have every opportunity. I don't understand the lowered expectations along these lines at all but that is their and their children's lives.

*shrug*

raptorguy85 · User Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Michigan

twistedmaples · User Joined: 31 Mar 2009 Posts: 5

...doesn't require either and they are a 4 year college.

I know there is a growing number (and they even have an acronym which escapes me right now) that do NOT require SAT scores but some of those still do ask for ACT scores.

Beth L