Assessment Versus Testing
Before discussing the benefits of having your child assessed, let me first be clear on the distinction between “assessment” and “testing.” Testing is typically one aspect of a complete assessment. It can include any one of a number of intelligence tests from group administered to individual (preferred), and it, generally results in an IQ score for the student.
Assessment takes an in-depth look at the child’s abilities, including strengths and weaknesses. And, potentially, it can uncover hidden disabilities. A comprehensive assessment usually offers insight into personality and learning styles; which can have a profound effect on the learning environment created by the family. Assessment also can include a measure of the child’s self-perception—critical information to those responsible for educating the child.
Insight Into Learning Styles
As the parent of one extremely visual-spatial learner, I can tell you it is imperative to understand—and honor—the preferred learning styles of your children. As my kids and I approached any new subject, we brainstormed together about how to present it visually. Often my children came up with remarkably effective, visual ways they would like to learn the new material. From maps of South America in multiple colors of clay (including transparency overlays of the ancient Aztec, Mayan, and Incan civilizations) to gigantic sheets of butcher paper (to trace the paths of the first Polynesian explorers and Lewis and Clark), we always incorporated some interesting visual activity to accompany and expand upon our traditional curriculum. We weren’t finished truly appreciating a Shakespeare play until we had dissected it, diagrammed it and created a cartoon version of it!
A lot of the parents I consult with are auditory-sequential (step-by-step learners who think primarily in words) trying to instruct their visual-spatial children (big picture thinkers who think and learn in images). A thorough understanding of their children’s learning styles is often enough to change resistant kids into students who are passionate about learning – an attitude change that can make all the difference when school is home and home is school. (Please see www.visualspatial.org for more information on identifying preferred learning styles.)
Insight Into Personality
Along with learning styles, it’s important to understand your children’s personality styles. Many people confuse introversion, for example, with shyness. But introversion entails much more and it can impact the learning environment a homeschooling family creates. Knowing that your introverted child would prefer to read a good book alone over having a dozen kids at the house, will cause you to think twice about insisting she participate in a homeschool co-op. Understanding that interaction with others is actually a need for your extraverted child will dictate that you find opportunities for sports, drama, or other large group situations for your son. An evaluation of your children’s personality traits, including the degree to which they are extraverted or introverted, would be helpful.