How Do We Know What They Know?

How Do We Know What They Know?

Using Non-traditional Evaluation Methods

It’s not uncommon for moms examining Epi Kardia curriculum for possible

purchase to ask “How will I know what my child has learned if there aren’t any tests?” Unit studies lend to this thinking and we completely understand why this is a concern. We had the same concerns for our children as we developed Epi Kardia curriculum.

So, how do we know what they know? For Epi Kardia and other parents using unit studies, non-traditional evaluation methods provide the answers. In reality, these methods should be used to some extent no matter what subject or what curriculum we’re using. Why? Well, test banks offered with textbook programs often fail to truly evaluate what children are actually learning. They may evaluate if a child knows the material on the test, but they can’t even guarantee that result. Due to various learning styles, some children will never succeed with traditional testing methods. By using a wide variety of evaluation methods, we can more thoroughly determine if our children are learning what we deem to be important.

One excellent benefit of non-traditional evaluation is that these methods may be adapted for students from Kindergarten to high school, allowing us, as parents, to select methods that promote our students’ gifts and provide positive, challenging learning experiences at the same time. Just as a unit study moves students to think out of the box, parents have to do the same in order to evaluate such achievement.

When evaluating our children, we want to determine whether we are seeking factual or processing responses. Factual responses, such as when we ask our child a question like “What are some achievements of the Ancient Egyptians?” demonstrate a child’s knowledge of the important points. Processing responses, as with a question like “What do you think it was like for children during the Middle Ages?” require our children to think and apply what they’ve learned, then respond appropriately. Strong communication is a key to non-traditional assessment as we always want to clearly articulate to our children what is expected of them. Tools such as rubrics and checklists combined with other evaluation methods not only provide assessment for us as parents and teachers, but they also allow our children to know ahead of time what we expect of them. This not only provides a greater opportunity for success, but also promotes confidence as our children more readily understand our goals for them.

Some non-traditional assessment ideas to consider as you plan for your children include:

Narration/oral presentations
- What did you learn? (factual)
- Book reports
- What do you think? (processing)
- Oral quizzes (factual and processing)
Written presentations and materials
- Essays
- Journalistic reports
- Advertising
- Reports
- Reviews
- Poetry
- Song lyrics
- Children’s materials
Visual and Graphic organizers
- Lap books, mini books
- Maps, overlays
- Outlines, thinking maps
- Scrapbooking
- Tri-fold board presentations (similar to science fair, but with different subject matter)
Artistic expression
- Drawing, painting, sculpture
- Architecture, building, design
- Models
Dramatic expression
- Theatrical presentation
- Playwriting
Evaluative assignments and projects
- Creating puzzles, comprehension questions, activity ideas
- Co-op style activities (working on a small part of a larger project)

The Epi Kardia Teacher’s Manual salso provide additional discussion and ideas related to non-traditional assessment. The Epi Kardia Tools CD, available as part of an Epi Kardia Complete Program, provides templates for checklists and rubrics, as well as other organizational charts for parents and students alike. If you have any questions about non-traditional evaluation methods and how to use them, feel free to contact us or visit our blog as we respond to other parents’ questions.

Many Blessings,

Beth

New High School Courses Available on our Website!

Three new high school courses are now available for sale on our website:

Essay Styles for High School - We recommend this foundational high school essay course as a first course in high school writing. Rounded out with the addition of literature and vocabulary study, this course is superb preparation for high school writing and beyond. Designed with step by step, detailed instructions for both the student and the teacher, even parents who do not view themselves as strong writers can teach this course because the evaluation section describes exactly what you need to look for in your student’s writing and explains how to determine a fair grade, as well.

a Study of American Writers - Treat yourself and your student to some of the finest writing to originate in America. Combining poetry, a play, short stories and novels, this one full year/credit American literature course will provide your student with a wide variety of reading and writing experiences including literary components, vocabulary, essay writing and creative projects. This curriculum also includes options for an honors credit. (We recommend Essay Styles as a prerequisite for this course, and they can also be taught concurrently.)

The Steps to Writing a Research Paper - Whether covering the effects of World War II or analyzing the sounds produced by an electric guitar, we recommend that at least two research papers be written by every high school student. From choosing an appropriate topic to note taking and research to understanding MLA and APA formatting, this course provides meaningful training that will benefit your student not only in high school, but throughout college. Examples and non-examples of how to create an excellent research paper allow students to avoid common pitfalls. The evaluation section gives parents and teachers the tools and information necessary for accurately grading each of the steps and the final paper.