Still debating testing (relaxed) homeschooled 7 year old - 03/17/16 09:36 PM
My 7 year old has never attended school and we are pretty relaxed homeschoolers. I make sure she's at grade level standards for math and reading (which she's beyond...with pretty minimal instruction) and otherwise we just participate in a lot of local homeschool activities--writing and art classes, nature classes, etc.
With direct instruction I am met with a lot of perfectionism which typically leads to a complete unwillingness to try anything at all. I saw this in her math skills recently, and once I weaseled my way in she picked up a lot of stuff quickly. She has also pretty much given up on art projects and drawing because it doesn't turn out how she imagines them.
Her reading ability and comprehension is great, though I struggle with encouraging her to read more challenging books that are still interesting to her. While she *can* read things at a "5th grade level," she's typically not interested in it and keeps at the early chapter book level when we're in the library (Magic Fairies, Heidi Hecklebeck, Bindi Irwin Adventures, etc.).
Anyway, now I'm rambling.
Back to the point...I've been hemming and hawing with testing. She's the sensitive type--with clothing and how it feels, with loud noises, with big emotions, and she's quick to burst into tears. And I'm wondering if testing would then open the door for options for support for those things, as well as helping me with:
How does she best learn?
How can we get past perfectionism and encourage creativity?
How can we best help her to reach her full academic potential?
How can I not mess this all up???
It's all so expensive to consider, but if it means support for where I'm wavering it seems like it would be worth it...maybe?
With direct instruction I am met with a lot of perfectionism which typically leads to a complete unwillingness to try anything at all. I saw this in her math skills recently, and once I weaseled my way in she picked up a lot of stuff quickly. She has also pretty much given up on art projects and drawing because it doesn't turn out how she imagines them.
Her reading ability and comprehension is great, though I struggle with encouraging her to read more challenging books that are still interesting to her. While she *can* read things at a "5th grade level," she's typically not interested in it and keeps at the early chapter book level when we're in the library (Magic Fairies, Heidi Hecklebeck, Bindi Irwin Adventures, etc.).
Anyway, now I'm rambling.
Back to the point...I've been hemming and hawing with testing. She's the sensitive type--with clothing and how it feels, with loud noises, with big emotions, and she's quick to burst into tears. And I'm wondering if testing would then open the door for options for support for those things, as well as helping me with:
How does she best learn?
How can we get past perfectionism and encourage creativity?
How can we best help her to reach her full academic potential?
How can I not mess this all up???
It's all so expensive to consider, but if it means support for where I'm wavering it seems like it would be worth it...maybe?