when my kids first started school we were in iowa, in one of the best school districts in the US, and their elementary schools did not give kids grades. they also had a ton of parent teacher conferences to let us know where the kids needed reinforcement.

now we live in Georgia, where everything is graded. even homework in kindergarten, or any worksheet or assignments. right away they are labeled as smart or not smart. even their behavior is graded. and it just so happens that it is one of the worst school districts in the nation…also they don’t do parent teacher conferences here…

(I have two in parochial school so I speak from experience.)

It bugs me to no end as well, this teaching our kids how to test well rather than inciting a passion for learning. My 6 y o also gets the “reads fluently above grade level but doesn’t always comprehend (test) well” comment from time to time.

There’s a time to learn how to be test savvy (jr & high school) and there’s a time to simply encourage kids to love love LOVE reading. Reading is the most fundamental of learning skills; I always tell my kids if you can read, you can learn ANYTHING with time and practice.

I’m just echoing your thoughts, here, but just had to chime in. And I’ve read about 7 or 8 homeschooling books since Christmas…just becoming informed.

So yeah, sometimes I think homeschooling is the way to go, because every kid is so different. And a teacher with a classful is never going to know your child as well as you do.

I think there’s a big difference between asking about a book’s themes or a character’s motives or how the reader looks at life differently after reading and asking what color shirt a secondary character wore in chapter three. The first type of question demands critical thinking skills, the second type of question is easy to grade. The first type of question is the kind we ask around the dinner table, the second is easy to ask of 29 third-graders.

I agree with you on looking at a book in different ways. I’m all for reading a book more than once. My favorite books I read once a year.

Sounds like a great book. I’ll look for it… or beg your copy.

Having said all of that, I think Sally is too dang young for all of that business. I disagree with testing entirely until the child is at least eight. But, in my one room school house, I have that option.

Perhaps I can tutor Sarah in test-taking since I was such a pro at it (remember my telling you about cramming for tests during our recent play date?). And then she can teach me all about knowing and understanding the book I’ve just read.

I’m reading a book right now by a really well renowned public school teacher name Rafe Esquith. He’s been recognized by Oprah, the Dalai Lama, and the Queen of England. His book, Teach Like Your Hair is On Fire, is meant to inspire teachers and give them ideas in the classroom, but is also an unintentional expose on the ridiculous things that happen in the public school system as far as testing and such. Everything you’ve said here about reading, he says in his book. Teachers can still teach effectively without succumbing to the brain vacuum that is the testing system, Esquith does. But most don’t bother or just don’t see how. Maybe I’ll send you the book when I’m done. Even if you don’t homeschool, it gives you a good idea of how the system works, and how it can be amended by parents and caring teachers.