Second grader is a terrible test taker
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Anonymous
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Just the computer based assessment tests, that is. According to his teachers, his in-class performance and paper tests are good to great. He chooses series a few grades above level to read for pleasure (Wings of Fire, Warrior Cats, etc.), and does math apps and workbooks at the third grade level because he says his math homework is "too easy and boring". But his reading and math assessment scores are just awful. As low as early first grade in some areas, up to right on grade level in others. But at least half to a full grade level behind what his teachers say he can do and what I see him doing at home.
His teacher says it may be test anxiety and that the tests are just bad and more confusing for some kids (this is DCPS), but he says he doesn't feel confused or anxious while taking them. Up to now I've just chalked it up to maturity and him being a crappy test taker...but what if he never figures it out? He'll be taking computer based tests for the rest of his educational career! At some point it will actually start to matter and will impact his academic opportunities, right? Does it actually matter in second grade? Do some kids just figure it out on their own? Do we wait for PARCC next year and get him some test taking tutoring if he totally bombs it? |
Anonymous
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I would ask him what’s going on. Some kids want to rush through to get to do something more appealing like read or draw when they’re done. Some kids are anxious. Some need a small group environment if they get distracted.
He may have some reason that you would have never have thought of. |
Anonymous
| He may never figure it out, and that’s okay. Taking computerized standardized tests is not important in the real world. Even in high school, grades and class work are what matters. |
Anonymous
| I'd ask for a 504 and request he be given paper tests instead of computer tests. |
Anonymous
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He sounds like he has a high IQ as well as perhaps some issues in the executive functioning or processing speed realm, but you need to get more details out of him or the teacher: does he complete each test within the time frame? If so, his processing speed is fine. Does he not read the question properly? If so, he may have an attention issue.
I have one kid with a high IQ and ADHD/ASD/low processing speed. He needed meds and extended time accommodations for tests all throughout K-12. You may want to get him evaluated. You will need that report to request extra time in school, if he needs it, or to eventually, at some point in time, consider stimulants for ADHD. BTW, Wings of Fire is such a great series!!! He can also try Redwall, an oldie but goodie. It's a bit of harder read, because the author transcribes all the different accents (the audiobooks read by the author are wonderful), but it's really interesting if he likes swashbuckling animals. He can also try The Hobbit, or Narnia, etc. DD read Watership Down at that age - not sure what she got out of it, but she loved it. |
Anonymous
| If you use a free online quiz generator, you can make some simple tests for him to practice on and he will improve. I did this with one kid who also didnt get the hang of computer tests at school. I made up simple questions with one obviously correct answer choice and 3 obviously ridiculous choices. Then I made them a little bit harder little by little. Just start with 5-10 questions every day. |
Anonymous
| He’s still very young. Give him time. He’s still in elementary school. This is more common than you think. They improve. |
Anonymous
I like this. |
Anonymous
| Tests mean literally nothing until 3rd grade. |
Anonymous
| Mine was like this too and it was because she didn't get any screen time at all. She did get used to it and her test taking improved. |
Anonymous
By 3rd grade, it’s hard to get them on the upswing. Better to start now . My guess is the tests just bore him so she speeds through them just to get it over with. Or he is a perfectionist type who labors over one question in particular and doesn’t move on fast enough to complete the entire exam |
Anonymous
| He* |
Anonymous
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Thanks, all. These are helpful replies. Yes, he does tend towards "sloppy" mistakes and some of it may just be inattention because he's rushing or distracted. Like a PP, he doesn't get much screen time, and that is what I thought it was last year, but it really just seems to be getting worse and not better! Now that we have the math app on the iPad, maybe that will help? I would LOVE paper tests, but he's been screened for ADHD and doesn't have it, so I'm not sure we'd have grounds for a 504 or even informal accommodations. Frankly I'd like to just TRY with a paper test once and see if that magically fixes the issue, then at least we'd have the data to know what the problem is (e.g., does the test suck or does he suck at computer based tests?).
His very experienced teacher said not to worry since it's just the computer tests that are the outlier (vs. classwork and paper tests), and that next year they get actual instruction and practice with how to take PARCC (DCPS). Never thought I'd be excited to hear that they focus on test prep, but I guess if we're stuck with these confusing, non-intuitive tests, better to ensure all kids know HOW to take them. |
Anonymous
"Screened"? ADHD is a serious disorder and cannot be "screened". You need an in-depth test, given either by a developmental pediatrician if the patient is very young, or a psychologist if the patient is older than, say, 6. Not a school psychologist! A real one, with a PhD, who does this all day in private practice. School personnel doesn't have the requisite background or time to correctly assess students. Don't let them fob you off with their nonsense "screens". Same goes for regular pediatricians: they are NOT trained to diagnose mental health disorders. All they're good for, in that realm, is renewing prescriptions for stimulants that a psychiatrist has previously selected and found to be optimal. It's very hard at that age to tease out what's what, so you can always revisit later, but please keep an eye on things. |
Anonymous
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I would be tempted to give him a paper placement test to validate that the computer tests are inaccurate. I think you are probably right, that it's something particular about computer testing that causes problems, but I've seen enough bullfeathers from schools claiming that everything was OK with a child who, as it turned out, wasn't OK, that I do not entirely trust them in that regards.
ITBS would be the gold standard, but quick and dirty tests might be enough to tell you if there's an issue -- various math curricula have placement tests. Here, for example are placement tests for Rod & Staff's math and English curricula: https://www.milestonebooks.com/bin/Placement_Test_Math.pdf https://www.milestonebooks.com/bin/Placement_Test_English.pdf R&S is roughly on grade level for math but IMHO their English curriculum is very hard core so I would not regard poor performance there as definitive for someone coming from the outside. Note that you can alter the math test to ask the questions open ended if you're concerned that weaknesses might be hidden by multiple choice. Alternate placement tests: Math Mammoth's (generally on grade level) https://www.mathmammoth.com/complete/placement_tests Singapore Math (slightly advanced) https://www.singaporemath.com/pages/placement-tests |