To Test or Not

For Homeschool Teachers: There is some argument about whether or not kids should take tests and have test grades recorded. Some moms think it is a waste of time, others have an unschooling philosophy. We must all follow the paths we think are best. However, this is my opinion: I think if you intend to have your student attend college, they should get accustomed to taking tests and having grades and understanding what that means. Being confined to a time limit also helps them get used to processing information faster. The memorization that is involved in testing trains the brain, though I don't think learning only by rote is good. And, my opinion, kids should get accustomed to answering different kinds of questions, multiple choice, T/F, short answer, word problems, and essay. Everyone has a different road to take however. I also think critical thinking skills are so important to life skills. Having physical puzzles (3D puzzles you maneuver), word puzzles (like crosswords), thinking puzzles, riddles, word play, etc. This way a person doesn't tend to feel helpless in difficult situations and can seek non-typical solutions to life's problems. We train our children in so many ways. I have often heard the complaint in a joke: "I will never use algebra in real life." This may be true, but I think learning to think through complicated problems expands the capacity of the mind to deal with complicated issues. By giving tests at home, we can train our students to handle pressure in the workplace in a timely manner also. If a student is intended for college, it would be a disservice to him not to provide him with the appropriate experience to help him succeed.