We've been having a great first week of school so far!
As our "experienced" families know, we spend a great deal of time during the first two weeks of school testing our students. They take a standardized test called the ERB as well as teacher-made tests in the areas of math, reading, and writing. Why? It is vital to know what a child already knows and what skills they may be lacking in order to have them enter instruction at their correct level. We want them to be appropriately challenged, and we want to make sure there are no huge gaps in knowledge. Based on the information gathered through testing, we will place students in reading/writing and math classses to best meet their needs.
Please understand that this testing is not a "waste of time." Instead, judicious pre-testing allows us to move gifted students at their optimal rate by avoiding repetition in the curriculum and working instead on new skills and knowledge.
If you'd like additional information on this process, please let me know. Have a great rest of your week!