Review: Kinderbach

Finding a quality music program for young children is difficult. Formal one-on-one lessons are often too much for little ones, requiring longer attention spans that most preschoolers have to give. Yet, many little ones are ready to move beyond just appreciating music and start learning rhythm, note identification, and music patterns. Kinderbach is a music instruction program for ages 2-7, with lessons available through an online membership or on DVD. If you have a budding musician in your house, Kinderbach may be just the answer to get them started.

I reviewed Kinderbach last year for the 2008-2009 review season. I'm not going to repeat myself on all the details; you can read my original review here. However, I would like to highlight some of the additions from last year.

You can read a full Scope and Sequence by Level at the website to get an idea of all this curriculum covers.

Since my review last year, more lessons have been added and now include Levels 5 and 6.

New features include:


Student DVDs forLevel 1-3

The new student DVDs run $9.95 each and include entertaining songs and stories from the corresponding levels




Crafts and Games for Level 1-3

A floor keyboard, flash cards, posters and games are all available as PDF downloads. Costs range from free - $9.95.



Coloring Pages

Also available as a PDF download, coloring pages corresponding to the lesson are available with costs ranging from free - $3.95.

Below is an introductory video that will tell you more about this program:



A free 2-week trial is also available so you can try before you buy.

An online Kinderbach membership is available for $19.99/month or at a discount for $95.88/year. If you'd like to fully check out all lessons, you can purchase a day pass for $5.95. Also available are a variety of DVD packages, which may be a better value if you'd like to use the lessons over the years with younger siblings. This would also be the preferred option if you are on dial-up. Kinderbach comes with a no-risk 30 day money back guarantee.

Visit the TOS Homeschool Crew's blog to read more reviews on this product and others.

Disclaimer: This review was provided as a result in my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Crew in exchange for my honest review. I strive to give a balanced overview of each product, detailing my opinion of both pros and cons and how the product worked for my family. What works for one family may not work for another. I encourage you to read reviews of other Crew members and research sufficiently to determine if any product will be a benefit to your homeschool.

Part 3: Determining Level in Specific Subjects

In Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, I shared a bit about testing your homeschooled students using standardized tests. These tests are great for giving a big picture of where your student stands academically to other students. Bubble tests are limited in the information they provide, but might give you cause to further examine a particular area.

You may find that a full standardized test is entirely too much of a time and money investment if you are looking just for a quick assessment in one area, such as reading. Fortunately, there are various assessment options for the 3Rs available on the internet, many for free.

For starters, you may consider contacting your local school district and ask them to send you a copy of their scope and sequence for a specific grade level or subject. You can then compare their benchmarks to the level of your child. Or, you can search online for comparison.

All Subjects, Categorized

Some of the below links have a listing of standards and some have actual tests for subjects available for download to administer.

Oregon Department of Education

California Content Standards K-12, categorized by grade and subject

Michigan Meap Tests Grades 3-5

Internet for Classrooms

Rubrics for Teachers

Math

Many suppliers of math curriculum have assessments for you to determine what level of curriculum you should purchase. A few are:

Math Mammoth placement tests for Grades 1-5

Singapore placement tests

Teaching Textbooks placement tests

K12 math placement test

Keep in mind that different programs cover different material at different times. This may mean that your student tests as the 3rd grade level with one curriculum and 4th with another. It could be a reflection of a curriculum that has higher standards than others. It could also signify that your current curriculum isn't up to snuff or that your child is struggling with the material. Either way, these sort of tests will give you both an idea of where your child stands with the subject and what level to purchase should you decide on that curriculum.

Language Arts

K12 language arts placement test

Reading

Reading level is always the biggest worry with young kids. Aside from looking on the back cover of the books your child is reading for the recommended ages/level, there are plenty of quick reading assessments available online.

A-Z Home's Cool

Schonell Reading Test

Liverpool Reading Estimator

Mindplay Reading Assessment

Spelling

Many assume that children reading at a certain level should also be spelling at the same level. This is often not the case. Determining spelling grade level is as simple as testing from various grade level spelling tests. Below are a couple options.

All About Spelling Spelling Lists

Everyday Spelling

Writing

One area that is usually difficult to assess for homeschooling parents is writing. Writing can be rather subjective and sometimes expectations are skewed by the experience with earlier children. I have one child that is very strong with writing and another who is weak in that area. I really have no idea what is typical at any age. One of the best sources of information I've found to get an idea of where your elementary child stands in the area of writing is from Oregon's Department of Education. Writing samples and scoring are provided for grades 3, 5, 6, and 8.

For older children, I would suggest looking at some of the writing samples and scoring from the ACT and SAT tests.

As you can see, there are plenty of free options available on the internet for you to get an idea of where your children might stand according to outside standards. For those that would prefer something with more official results, you may want to consider Let's Go Learn. Both reading and math assessments are available through Let's Go Learn at very reasonable prices. For one of my children that struggled with reading and spelling, I used the Dora Reading Assessment every 6-12 months to gauge progress in the elementary years.

If you feel you need to test your child in order to answer the question, "Are your kids keeping up with peers?" from an academic standpoint, there are certainly a variety of options available, from full-scale standardized tests to quick subject assessments. I covered testing options at length because many want concrete, leveled answers. However, I'm not so sure this is the best way to answer this question. In my next post, I will be moving away from testing and on to a different perspective.

Other posts on this topic:
Part 1
Part 2

Part 2: Testing: Fleshing Out the Results

Yesterday I addressed the question “How do you know if your kids are keeping up with their peers?” from the perspective of using a measurement tool that is nationally normed as a baseline (Part 1 here). Mostly these tests can be used to quiet fears, either internally or externally, about what your kids are learning at home.


Part 2: Testing: Fleshing Out the Results

Today I will discuss how to move beyond a baseline and use testing as a tool for giving you information on your child's strengths and weaknesses. Most times we know the weak and strong areas just by working with our kids every day. But what if the initial testing results unexpectedly showed your child is hugely behind or ahead grade level? Now what?

The problem with grade-level tests is that they only test grade level material in a single grade. They do give you a baseline, which in many cases is sufficient. If your child is an average student across all subjects, standardized tests are very good at telling you that. But how many homeschooled students are average across the board? Most homeschooling parents give their kids an individualized education. That means if Johnnie is ready to read chapter books early, that is what they are given. The parent doesn't tell Johnny he can only read the 3rd grade books when in 3rd grade. If Suzy is struggling with fractions, the parent doesn't tell her "too bad" and go on to the next page or suggest she get after-hours tutoring so they can move forward with the curriculum.

Testing will often reflect this variation in levels. Whether you administered a standardized test for yourself, the state, or a nagging relative, there are sometimes indications on such tests that may be useful to your homeschool. Some variations are normal, but many low or high scores may be a sign that your child would be better off with a different level test. Unfortunately, this isn't as easy as just giving your 3rd grader a 2nd grade or 4th grade CAT, SAT, or ITBS test. To understand your next step, I first need to explain a bit about how standardized tests work.

Many people do not understand what the results of standardized testing and often misinterpret scores. If you are going to use a standardized test, it is important to know how to read the results. Most results give a composite score (all the subtests together) and individual subtest scores. You may see raw scores, number of questions, answers marked and scaled scores, among other data. However, the most useful information is the percentile ranking and the grade equivalent column.

Percentile Ranking

This score is not the percent answered correctly on the test. Instead, it tells you how your student did compared to other students that took the same level test. A percentile ranking of 88% means your child did better or the same as 88% of the students taking the test. In this example, 12% did better. A percentile of 50% is considered average.

Grade Equivalency

This is where there is the most confusion. Many times I've heard parents say, "Our annual testing shows that little Susie is working three grades ahead!" This is not the case! The number in the grade equivalent column does not tell you what grade level your child is working. Remember, this is a grade level test with material that covers one grade. The only thing results can tell you is how much your child knows in that particular grade level.

So, what exactly is that number in the grade equivalent column? To best explain, I'll use a numerical example. Say little Susie takes a 3rd grade CAT test and has a grade equivalency of 6.5 in the Reading Comprehension subtest. What this does not mean is Susie is comprehending at at mid-6th grade level. What is does mean is Susie answered just as many questions correctly as a 6th grader taking the 3rd grade test would. Yes, she knows her third grade material, but knowing how far above is impossible to extrapolate out of the results.

Parents like to look at those grade equivalent scores, but the percentile scores are really more useful. Look closer at subjects that have very high or very low percentile scores.

If there is an unusually low score, parents should first consider if there are reasons other than knowledge for a lower-than-expected score. For example, were time constraints an issue? Does the child not understand the material or is it something as simple as the sequence of topics is different in the curriculum you use? Maybe your child was just tired on testing day or is simply not a great test-taker.

Low scores do not necessarily mean your child is behind, but you should look into potential reasons for them. There may be a gap that you didn't know about that needs filling. No matter if your child is educated at the local school or at home, there will be gaps. The advantage of homeschooling is you have the opportunity to fill them when presented. In a public school environment, the class is just moved on.

What if your child's scores reflect that he knows all the material tested extremely well? While that is good news, how do you know your child is being challenged in your homeschool? Are your materials too easy? How far above grade level is your student working? A grade-level test will not give you this information; some further investigation will be required.

Most standardized tests are not normed to give useful results when testing out-of-level, whether above grade or below grade level. Therefore, the solution isn't to give your 3rd grader a 2nd or 4th grade test if they are working below or above grade level. If you are looking for a standardized measurement tool that measures beyond or below the students grade by age, there are a couple of options.

PASS

One possibility is the PASS Test mentioned yesterday. The PASS is normed by level, not grade. Before administering the PASS, students are to take a pretest to determine what level test they should take. A 3rd grader will not necessarily pretest into the 3rd grade level. Unlike the CAT, SAT, or IBTS, the results on the PASS are compared to those students who place into the same level test, regardless of age. The actual tests do not have a grade designation and instead go by letters, but most parents will be able to determine grade level of each test.

The flexibility of the PASS test applies to both those behind and above grade level and is an excellent way to test them where they are at. Testing at a grade level by age for a child with a learning disability, an long-term illness, or at some other issue that prevents them from working at the level of their ages peers is no more useful than testing a precocious child at a grade lower than they are actually working.

Talent Searches

Some students may qualify for testing through one of the talent searches. The one in my area is Northwestern University's Midwest Academic Talent Search NUMATS) and is for kids in grades 3-8. The talent search programs test high achieving students with out-of-level tests with results and percentile rankings of both the other students of the same age in the talent search and the typical student taking that level test. For example, students 3-6th grade are given the 8th grade EXPLORE test. Parents get two sets of results. The first is how their child did compared to the 8th graders across the nation that took this test. The second is how their student did compared to the other students in the talent search the same grade as their student. Grades 6-8 take either the ACT or SAT with the same sort of comparisons.

Using the harder test material is beneficial in two ways. First of all, scores are more meaningful. If a 3rd grader gets a 99%ile on a grade level test, but a 80%ile on a 8th grade test, that is very telling. They know much farther than 3rd grade. In fact, they know as much as 80% of 8th graders. However, it is possible that same student that scored a 99%ile on a 3rd grade test could also get a 20% on the 8th grade test. Their mastery of 3rd grader material is no different, but how much farther they go beyond that material is.

The second benefit is that each year the student takes the same level test, which helps determine growth in an area. For example, one year one of my kids had over a 25%ile jump in the science subtest after introducing a new science curriculum. Because I was comparing the same level test and format over the two consecutive years, the success of the new curriculum was very obvious.

One note: I do not recommend that students participate in the talent searches unless you are sure they meet the eligibility criteria. Otherwise, they will find the experience very frustrating.

In the next post, I will gladly move beyond the complete standardized test. They have their place and are worth discussing, but there are other options to test students in specific subjects if there is a concern. After that, we'll move beyond testing and get to the core of this question.

Other posts in this series:

Part 1
Part 3
Part 4

Fit Mommy - Week 4

This is my weekly check-in for Fit Mommy, hosted by Denise over at Got Chai?

Well, it was another not-so-successful week, at least according to the scale.

The top 10 things I learned this week.

10. All that stands between me and will power is saran wrap
9. A serving of Godiva chocolate is 3 pieces and 12 grams of fat.
8. Tazo chai has less fat than Big Train chai.
7. Cravings for mixed nuts diminish once chocolate is reintroduced.
6. Virtual or no, trainers annoy me.
5. If your muscles don't hurt, they aren't getting worked out.
4. Long walks are even better with real children (as opposed to the furry variety)
3. Scales and clothes tell two different stories.
2. Being almost 40 really stinks.
1. Accountability is stronger than results.

The weekends are killing me nutritionally. This is the third weekend in a row where we had some sort of gathering involving food. A Groundhog Day party was the culprit this time. Tables of food are not a dieters friend. Gets me every time.

On Sunday I finally succumbed to the box of Godiva that I have been avoiding since Christmas. I did show a bit of willpower in that the day prior I handled the box and put it back on second thought. Sunday was a brand new day and that box was calling me...taunting me. As you can see, I actually thought this through and grabbed the camera for this post. So sad. There wasn't a n ounce of will power in me that day. Luckily, this is only a single layer box, unlike the multi-layer one that already vanished before the New Year. They really need to make those boxes harder to get into. I mean, what kind of protection is a thin layer of plastic?

Of course, I went right for my favorite, the open oyster filled with hazelnut praline. Then I hit the praline hearts - both of them. That wiped out the my favorites and I had better self control after that, though I can't say I left the box alone the rest of the week. The good news is I shared the box with my family and had less than a "serving" when I splurged. I was hoping this was a single serving box. It's not. 3 pieces. 190 calories. 12g of fat.

I am still eating better, with an apple for breakfast every day and generally working on portion control and snacking. I ran out of my normal chai and temporarily switched to a concentrate that I used with skim milk, making my chai fat free. That ought to count for something! I stayed out of the mixed nuts; who needs those when you have chocolate? Maybe next week will go better. All that is left of that box of chocolates are the fruit filled ones. I only go after those if I'm really, really desperate!

The working out wasn't too bad. I used the EA Active program Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. On Wednesday, I just couldn't bring myself to tolerate the virtual trainer. I went onto Comcast On Demand, looking for a Firm workout. I couldn't find one and ended up with Jillian Michaels. Good thing the workout was only 20 minutes, because Ms. Jillian was starting to annoy me as well. I didn't think it was much of a workout, but I sure was sore the next day. If I'm sore with this workout, after 3 weeks of using EA Active, it tells me that I'm not getting much with the EA Active. I'm thinking about switching to something else. On mute.

I also walked Monday and Tuesday for 30 minutes with my daughter during one of her dog walking jobs. My son usually goes with her but fell while ice skating and had a sore knee. My daughter and I had a really nice conversation while walking. The week prior, I walked with my son because my daughter was studying for a midterm and experienced the same. I should do that more often.

The scale still has not budged. Not a pound. I'm finding that a little very discouraging. Ten years ago I would have shed 5 pounds by now, easy. Why does metabolism have to go downhill the older you get? It isn't like we are doing less! I work much harder now than I did as a youngen'.

Even if my scale isn't cooperating, my jeans seem to be fitting a bit better, so perhaps I am making a smidgen of progress. If it weren't for Fit Mommy, I probably would have given up by now. So thank you to Denise at Chai Mommy and the other Fit Mommies for encouragement. I guess this week I should be happy to have not gained anything after all that Godiva and that is where I'm going to leave it until next week!

Are Your Kids Keeping Up with Peers? Part 1: Standarized Testing as a Baseline

How do I know my kids are keeping up with their peers? This is the next question on the new weekly carnival by the TOS Homeschool Crew, the Blog Cruise.


Before I can answer this question, I have to ask some questions of my own. First of all, who are my kids' peers? Are they the kids the same age that attend public or private school, other homeschoolers, or both? Secondly, are they keeping up with their peers in what? Academic subjects, character, sports, activities? Lastly, who is asking the question...the homeschooling parent, an inquisitive neighbor, or a judgmental relative?

There are too many angles to take on this question. Instead of addressing just one, I will be posting a series of several answers based on what information is being sought.

Part 1: Standardized Testing as a Baseline

For this first post, I will be addressing this question as it usually intended when asked by those who do not homeschool or by the unsure homeschool parent.

I've had this question once posed to me by someone who worked in the school district and was judgmental of our homeschooling. He might have just as well said, "Show me the scores!" This particular person knew no other language. I'm not one to show scores freely, but it is helpful to have knowledge of the scores and be able to say to such people, "We're doing just fine, thank you."

As for the unsure homeschooling parent, I've run into two scenarios. Often it is a new homeschooling mother who just wants to make sure her kids are at least learning as much as they would in the local school. The second scenario is when a father, usually one that is hands-off on the teaching, is wanting some sort of results assessment.

In either scenario, the inquirer is really asking, “How do you know you are doing at least as good as the public schools?” This revised question completely changes the criteria for answers. Public schools have different standards than my homeschool. However, while my homeschool may have different and/or higher standards, I am still interested in knowing how my kids fair against those public school standards since it is those measurements that are understood by those outside of homeschooling.

If the goal is to compare my homeschool to the local public school, then the measuring tools need to be the same as well. For this reason, I do opt to use standardized tests every year as a quick measuring tool and to have on file. Now, I have my opinions on standardized tests. They do have their place, but they aren't always completely accurate, whether those taking them are homeschooled or public schooled. There are many factors, including teaching to the test, experience in test taking, and time restrictions that alter results. All that aside, it is my first step toward assessing what our homeschool might look to someone else who puts a lot of faith into standardized testing.

There are quite a few options available to parents to test their homeschooled children.

The three most common standardized tests are:

• Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS)
  
• California Achievement Test (CAT)
  
• Standford Achievement Test (SAT)
  

These three tests are nationally-normed, well-established tests that are familiar to anyone in the standardized testing world. I remember taking the ITBS as a child in school. Some require the administrator to have a 4-year degree and to register with the testing service. However, often homeschool groups offer group testing as a service to the homeschooling community. There are many test providers and services should you choose to test this route.

Another option is:

Personalized Achievement Summary System (PASS)

The PASS test was developed specifically for homeschoolers and is available through Hewitt Homeschooling. It is only available for grades 3-8. Two comparison scores a provided against both public schooled and the homeschooled groups. The result are also a comparison of those taking the same level test, rather than by age. This differs from the ITBS, CAT, and SAT and has potential advantages to be discussed in a future post. Another advantage to this test is that there are no time restrictions. One disadvantage to the PASS is that not as many have heard of it. If you are wanting the results for your own information, that likely will not matter. If you are wanting to use the results as evidence to your public school teacher mother-in-law that your kids are learning just as well at home as the kids in her classroom, you might be better off with a test she can recognize.

A less official assessment is to administer the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). The TAKS is a standardized test used in Texas public schools, taken by children in grades 3-11 each spring. Previous years and answer keys are available as a free download to all. You won't have official scoring, but will see how your kids fair against Texas' public schooled students.

Any of the above tests will give you an idea of how your children are generally doing with grade level material in comparison with others in the same grade. Depending on the reason for seeking out a comparison, this may be all the information that is needed to answer "Are my kids keeping up with their peers?".

My next post will address how to use standardized testing if your child is performing above or below their grade level by age.

Part 2

More drama...

It's good drama though! Both of my kids had auditions for a theater production with our homeschool group today. This is the fourth year this particular group of kids has put on a production. I'm a bit biased, but the performances are very nicely done and impressive. This year the group will be performing an adaptation of the Charles Dickens' novel Nicholas Nickleby.

When we first started, most of the kids were in the 6-10 age range. It has been fun to see how they have grown and improved their acting skills. I imagine those casting had a difficult time deciding.

Everyone is guaranteed a part, but not everyone is guaranteed their first choice. As a result, there is great anticipation when the casting is announced. Tonight I have two very happy kids as they both were cast with their first choices.

And now the fun begins - rehearsals, memorizing lines, making costumes...

Dd Lets Her Hair Down!

...literally!

Dd almost always has her hair in a ponytail. It's quick. It's easy. Who can blame her?

She recently decided that she wanted go from long and straight to a bit of layering. After some abuse from a recent theater production (that required ringlets of her super straight hair, achieved with lots of heat and hairspray), she needed a good trim. The problem is, Mom's salon doesn't do layers. So, I took her someplace to get a real haircut today.

BEFORE

The pic on the left is still-damp hair, just to show length. The middle is her hair brushed out for a picture this past fall. Normally is is just swept back in a ponytail like the pic on the right.

AFTER

The stylist ended up taking only 4 inches off. Though both of us thought the end result would be quite a bit shorter, this really is good length for a transition. I think she looks awfully pretty with her new layers.

However, it didn't take her but a couple hours to have it back in a ponytail, though there is a little face-framing layer sneaking out!