TEST, v.t. To compare with a standard; to try; to prove the truth or genuineness of any thing by experiment or by some fixed principle or standard; as, to test the soundness of a principle; to test the validity of an argument.             (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary)

Testing is something I believe in. As a Christian and believer in God’s word, I take examples and commands seriously. God says to test Him (Mal. 3:10), test spirits (1 Jn. 4:1) and to test our faith (2 Cor. 13:5). According to Webster’s definition, I have a standard, a fixed principle (God’s Word, the principles of the subject, the rudiments) that I am to judge my children against. It is my right and responsibility to make sure they are adequately mastering the principles I am trying to teach them.

Evaluating your kid’s proficiency can be a “testy” subject among home educators. To formally test or not to test? There are valid reasons on both sides of this issue. Whether you are a tester who is tired of the routine or a non-tester who may be thinking of an occasional assessment, these out-of-the-box ideas may get you thinking about testing in a different light.

• Have them write and act out a play demonstrating understanding of concepts.
• They can explain what they have learned to a grandparent or friend.
• Older students can write (and grade) and essay test for you to take on what they have been learning.
• Make an art project illustrating principles and ideas of the subjects.
• Make a board game with ideas they have learned.
• Put the questions on index cards spread on the floor. Let them jump from card to card to answer the questions.
• Write a newspaper article or newscast. This is great practice for fact-filled learning.
• If you need a traditional test, let them verbalize the answers instead of writing them. Younger students think much faster than they can write, so verbal tests can ease their testing anxiety.

Any of these activities can give you a great idea of how much they have learned without traditional paper and pencil testing. You may do many of these things now and not think of them as evaluation tools. Next time you need to test, try one of these and see if your kids don’t ask you to test more often!