<p>jlauer--I actually am not against standardized tests. And I am not against quizzes, spelling tests, etc. However, I think that at very young ages, one does not really get an accurate picture of what is going on with a child with some of these tests. For instance, what is the point at the end of kindergarten getting a "report" in the mail saying that your child did not reach the kindergarten reading benchmark? What does that mean? Well, it means nothing. This same kid that got that report was at the highest reading level a couple of years later, just because developmentally that was when it "clicked." And I "know" that, but I still find it upsetting and ridiculous to label a kindergartner as being "behind" because of this. </p>
<p>And now in second grade, my seven year old child is being tested before every report card and in addition there is "the big test" at the end of the year. That is in addition to the spelling tests and other routine tests.</p>
<p>I only wish the questions on the second grade tests were as straightforward as your sample questions. When I get a chance I'm going to ask my seven year old's teacher for another look at the test. I swear one of the questions was something like "Which article is most likely to appear in Sports Illustrated?" Well, that's pretty easy if you have a clue what Sports Illustrated is, which my seven year old does not. I think she bubbled fishing instead of basketball, so I guess that means she is "behind." What next? Questions on People Magazine??? (She actually might KNOW those, LOL.)</p>