| Is your homeschool student very bright but | | | | succeed if they are operating inside this "sweet |
| bored? One of the advantages of homeschooling | | | | spot." If they aren't, then they may be bored or |
| is the ability to test the level of your student in | | | | hopelessly lost. |
| each subject. The standardized tests (Iowa Basic, | | | | If your child is very bright, and yet does poorly in |
| CAT, or any of the others) can be a great help in | | | | a school situation, you may want to check if they |
| this regard. Is the student at grade level and | | | | are truly bored in school. When we pulled our two |
| challenged? Above grade level and bored? Or | | | | boys out of public school and started |
| below level and frustrated? You can give | | | | homeschooling, we really didn't know how |
| placement tests in specific subjects as well. Using | | | | advanced they were in each subject. Fortunately, |
| a math placement test can help you determine | | | | we were in tune enough to not assume they |
| which level of math to study - because it may be | | | | were in 3rd and 5th grade in every subject! We |
| different than their grade level. | | | | were shocked to discover that our boys were |
| Once you know the level of your student, then | | | | actually operating at two grade levels above in |
| make sure their curriculum is at their level all the | | | | math, and four grade levels above in spelling. I |
| time. Keep school challenging but not | | | | would not have known they were advanced if we |
| overwhelming in every subject. It can make a | | | | hadn't been homeschooling. Testing them at the |
| huge difference in your student's success. It | | | | beginning of the year allowed them to enjoy |
| doesn't matter what level they are - it matters | | | | homeschooling, because they were always |
| that they are working at THEIR level. They can | | | | challenged but never overwhelmed. |