Tuesday, August 18, 2009
College Applications
One quick word of caution. It seems some of the applications are automatically sent if you fill it out. This has happened twice. My son thought he was saving and it was sent. OOPS- Live and learn.
Testing- ACT - SAT- PSAT- Placements tests
I just registered my 11th grader for the PSAT. He is taking it at his old Catholic high school. I just have to remember to make sure he has the homeschooling code when he takes it. The proctor should have it but I trust no one.
Interestingly enough, last year when my older son took the PSAT no one in his class qualified as a national merit scholar. It is definitely a good idea to go through the format with my younger one before he takes it. Apparently, no one explain the test and how it is scored. I haven't totally researched it yet but I do believe they are counted down for incorrect answers like the SAT. More on that when my research is done.
ACT vs. SAT
1. Take both
2. SAT the colleges super score- which means if you take it multiple times the schools can take the highest score from each sub test to come up with a composite, or as they call it a super score.
3. You don't need to know any science for the science on the ACT you just have to be able to read graphs.
4. Timing is everything. My son raised his reading score 4 points by just learning how to time the reading selections.
5. On the ACT the sub test scores can vary up to 5 points from one test to the next. The tests seem to be layed out very different. Some math tests are more arithmetic and some more reading.
6. The whole thing does not seem very accurate. It's a game. You just have to learn how to play it or teach your children how to play it, unfortunately.
7. These test surely are not really a sign of success. Statistically they don't seem very accurate.
8. Sending scores- you can send a new set of scores even after you are accepted, just make sure to notify the school so they can pull the new scores. This will help with merit scholarship up until Jan. of the year they plan to enroll.
9. Writing- if you can write a 4-5 paragraph essay with a thesis that is supported and concluded you will be fine. My son is not a great writer but he did pretty well. Not a perfect score but not bad.
Placement tests
Really, what is the purpose? I am being slightly facetious since my boys just took one for spanish. A little background: They both have 2 years high school spanish but I wanted to be sure they were prepared to take the 103 level class at the community college. They took the test and one of them got 8 hours credit one didn't get any. The interesting thing is they had the same teacher and got the same grade in the class. The poorer test taker did better. The interesting part is the department head who graded the test said it doesn't really matter because they both meet the prerequisite for the 103 class so they both can take that one. He will give the one boy credit for 101 and 102 and if the other one gets a "C" in the class he will also get credit.
So I am back to what was the purpose of the test. The audio on the test was so old they could hardly understand what was being said. I mentioned it and the testing office and the professor both said they knew because the test is old. OK then why wouldn't you fix it? Stupid question, I guess.
To make things worse the professor told me to register them for the class but when I went to do that the computer wouldn't let me because they didn't attend the new student orientation. So, I did what every good mom would do, I called, only to find out I need to fill out a waiver because they don't need to attend the orientation. Of course, this had to be done at the college. Now I have 3 days to register them for the classes I want them in or I have to go through this again.
I guess I should have made this multiple posts but this is why I call this gobbeledgook.
Interestingly enough, last year when my older son took the PSAT no one in his class qualified as a national merit scholar. It is definitely a good idea to go through the format with my younger one before he takes it. Apparently, no one explain the test and how it is scored. I haven't totally researched it yet but I do believe they are counted down for incorrect answers like the SAT. More on that when my research is done.
ACT vs. SAT
1. Take both
2. SAT the colleges super score- which means if you take it multiple times the schools can take the highest score from each sub test to come up with a composite, or as they call it a super score.
3. You don't need to know any science for the science on the ACT you just have to be able to read graphs.
4. Timing is everything. My son raised his reading score 4 points by just learning how to time the reading selections.
5. On the ACT the sub test scores can vary up to 5 points from one test to the next. The tests seem to be layed out very different. Some math tests are more arithmetic and some more reading.
6. The whole thing does not seem very accurate. It's a game. You just have to learn how to play it or teach your children how to play it, unfortunately.
7. These test surely are not really a sign of success. Statistically they don't seem very accurate.
8. Sending scores- you can send a new set of scores even after you are accepted, just make sure to notify the school so they can pull the new scores. This will help with merit scholarship up until Jan. of the year they plan to enroll.
9. Writing- if you can write a 4-5 paragraph essay with a thesis that is supported and concluded you will be fine. My son is not a great writer but he did pretty well. Not a perfect score but not bad.
Placement tests
Really, what is the purpose? I am being slightly facetious since my boys just took one for spanish. A little background: They both have 2 years high school spanish but I wanted to be sure they were prepared to take the 103 level class at the community college. They took the test and one of them got 8 hours credit one didn't get any. The interesting thing is they had the same teacher and got the same grade in the class. The poorer test taker did better. The interesting part is the department head who graded the test said it doesn't really matter because they both meet the prerequisite for the 103 class so they both can take that one. He will give the one boy credit for 101 and 102 and if the other one gets a "C" in the class he will also get credit.
So I am back to what was the purpose of the test. The audio on the test was so old they could hardly understand what was being said. I mentioned it and the testing office and the professor both said they knew because the test is old. OK then why wouldn't you fix it? Stupid question, I guess.
To make things worse the professor told me to register them for the class but when I went to do that the computer wouldn't let me because they didn't attend the new student orientation. So, I did what every good mom would do, I called, only to find out I need to fill out a waiver because they don't need to attend the orientation. Of course, this had to be done at the college. Now I have 3 days to register them for the classes I want them in or I have to go through this again.
I guess I should have made this multiple posts but this is why I call this gobbeledgook.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Importance of public speaking
I've been doing a lot of thinking about the teaching of public speaking to children. It is more than just giving a speak. Just recently I asked my 16 year old to ask a question about a class he was going to take. After reminding him what exactly he needed to ask I also felt as if I needed to remind him about greeting the person, making eye contact, etc. His response was, "Can't you just do it?" That made me realize how important it is to work with all of my children on how to present themselves even to take care of simple tasks. Eventually he went and asked the questions and came back. I asked if it was as hard as he thought. (He would still prefer I do it for him.
Talking in our families is very different than going out to strangers or even standing up in front of friends. The way to help our children improve in this area is to watch how they do it and give them feedback. It is good to give positive and negative criticism. We are so worried today about offending someone or hurting our children's self-esteem that we often don't give correction. Practicing at home is good but it is not the same as standing up in front of someone else. Provide as many opportunities as possible for your children to learn how to present themselves. Simple things like shaking hands, making eye contact, not playing with your hair or clothes are all important.
For some people public speaking comes naturally but not for all. Start young and practice often!
Talking in our families is very different than going out to strangers or even standing up in front of friends. The way to help our children improve in this area is to watch how they do it and give them feedback. It is good to give positive and negative criticism. We are so worried today about offending someone or hurting our children's self-esteem that we often don't give correction. Practicing at home is good but it is not the same as standing up in front of someone else. Provide as many opportunities as possible for your children to learn how to present themselves. Simple things like shaking hands, making eye contact, not playing with your hair or clothes are all important.
For some people public speaking comes naturally but not for all. Start young and practice often!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Where to go...
So, what am I doing you ask? Well, I thought this would be a good forum to start keeping track of some of this knowledge. Most is just practical advise, how to avoid the mistakes I have made not only in homeschooling but also parenting and just plain life.
Some of my passions: My family, my husband of 20 years (today), my children and my beautiful Roman Catholic faith. I love to organize and fortunately so does my daughter. I love math, ironically I represent and do some teaching of a writing program, Institute for Excellence in Writing. I could go on for days about all the things I have learned, not about writing from Andrew Pudewa but I will save that for later. Mentors, Mentors, Mentors, they have such value.
I need to get the pool ready for some guest, my dear friend Julie and her children. She thinks she can help organize my brain or at least she is going to try to pull some information out of it. We started the college search this year...oh, boy, that is all I will say right now~
Until later
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