Do you give tests? Do you let your child use the book when he tests or does he have to have it memorized?

I only really test in spelling and math.
They are not allowed to use the book in either.
Once the test is over they can then use the book to see where they made their mistake.
A few years ago when they used a text book for Science, they did test weekly and they were allowed to use the book. I did this so they could learn to scan for information.
That text book covered a lot of info in a weeks time!

We test in nearly every subject and a book is never allowed. Now, when dd did Science Olympiad, per the rules, all events were allowed a 2-sided 8.5 x 11 sheet of notes in any form, from any source; some events were allowed a 3-ring binder. Testing, imo, is a great thing to do with kids, even those with test anxiety. If they ever plan to go to college, having a background in testing will be a very useful tool. Additionally, if one is testing, they'll hopefully learn study skills that will aid in their retention. All that being said, I do not "teach to the test" but test at home to find out if they've mastered a subject. Sometimes it's a written test and other times it's done orally. We are also required by our state to test each year; I passed on that for the last school year and instead am planning to do a state-approved evaluation form that I fill out myself and have stamped by a certified teacher.

What Carli said. And she said it better than I could have even THOUGHT of saying!
Besides, testing is Biblical. The math tests of life are the easy ones....it's God's testing that's HARD. These little tests...math, history, science...are just dress rehearsals for the real thing!

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I can do ALL things through Christ, who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)

I love your answer even better!

That being said, I do test, on occasions. Last year, my ds, when he was ready for his English tests, I did allow him to open up his student text. He never had the answers, per say, except on a few definitions, but he was able to see how the diagramming was done in a particular way or a set of rules he could look at to determine his test answers. For all other subjects, no looking at the book. Now that he is in 8th grade, I am going to make sure he is tested at the end of every year so I can really gauge his skill level for the upcoming ACT test in a couple of years.

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Prayer should be your first response.
Not your last resort.

I didn't do tests in my early years of homeschooling. Carli and Laurajean are both correct. Testing helps to prepare them for school/college testing and sheesh if they have a test phobia NOT testing at earlier ages is worse on them! My Sky is a nervous wreck days before the test. She still does well, but I believe she would do much better had she been used to testing! And testing is scriptural!

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“The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.”
― Mother Teresa

Dh and ds are in college. They do online classes for most of them because they work 40+ hours a week. They have tests of course, but the can use their book. When they did test in class some professors let them take in a card with as much info on it as they can as some suggested. Of course, there are others classes that can't take any "cheats" in.

Shelly, he is in 9th grade right?
You do have to have a transcript, you had to with the other boys.
I graded everything, not necessarily test everything.
We test, vocabulary, math , science, writing, book reports. The rest we just gave a grade.
They just need a grade and in college they do not go over the history, science, etc, unless he is going to major in something that requires it and then I would grade it. Does he know what he wants to do in 4 yrs in college?
Breanne cannot take notes into class, they are given review sheets by the professors and if they know that they know the test.
Isn't taking notes to class and using them on a test cheating? that is not requireing the student to remember the work they studied. To me that is not fair. Too easy to get a higher GPA. Not fair to me.

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