Prima Latina Test

[RunnerJoy]

My 2nd grader is overdue for his first Prima Test. When I mention the test, he gets very nervous. I've tried explaining its just a way to help me measure what he knows. Today, I pulled it out and showed it to him and went over every question orally. He got all but two correct. This seems to have calmed his nerves a bit. I'm wondering where to go from here. I want him to take the test, to help him get acclimated with testing. He does take spelling tests, but has not reacted like this before. I'm not sure if he could spell everything correctly on his Prima Test, so I would even be glad to sit and dictate spellings for him after he tells me the answer. I guess I'm curious what the best route to take is?

Sorry for the jumbled thoughts. I have two karate students practicing for their green belt tests around me and a K'er trying to type her name on my screen!

[jen1134]

Re: Prima Latina Test

My 2nd grader is overdue for his first Prima Test. When I mention the test, he gets very nervous. I've tried explaining its just a way to help me measure what he knows. Today, I pulled it out and showed it to him and went over every question orally. He got all but two correct. This seems to have calmed his nerves a bit. I'm wondering where to go from here. I want him to take the test, to help him get acclimated with testing. He does take spelling tests, but has not reacted like this before. I'm not sure if he could spell everything correctly on his Prima Test, so I would even be glad to sit and dictate spellings for him after he tells me the answer. I guess I'm curious what the best route to take is?

Sorry for the jumbled thoughts. I have two karate students practicing for their green belt tests around me and a K'er trying to type her name on my screen!

I would count doing it orally as having done the test! I didn't stress spelling in Prima, but I'm probably in the minority there. I do need to start emphasizing it more in Latina Christiana.

One of my older boys has never tested well, but when we started using Quizlet he got the idea to test himself. He thoroughly surprised himself when he got a 100% on his self-test. He now often pre-tests himself if he's unsure about how he'll do. It's really helped his confidence.

You might want to say, rather than the test being a "measure", that it's just a way for both you and him to know what he's mastered and what you need to work on together some more. This is also how I explain grades to my kids.

[Michelle T]

Re: Prima Latina Test

In addition to oral practices, try taking practice tests on white boards. That will help with spelling of the words. Also consider giving an oral vocab test each week!

Blessings,
Michelle T

[pickandgrin]

Re: Prima Latina Test

FWIW, I don't do any testing in Prima with my crew. We just memorize the words and try to use them as much as possible. Having the third child starting Latin has actually really helped with the kids trying more Latin aloud in the house. They get into correcting each other, or adding more words. It is pretty fun with all their different levels and vocabularies!

[jenniferjb]

Re: Prima Latina Test

We still haven't taken the first test either, but we have started doing the 'tests' on Quizlet for practice. You can customize them - start with multiple choice and move to fill in the blank. My youngest thinks it quite fun, and she is determined to make it to 100%. I rather like Jessica's idea of skipping the tests for Prima, so if we can achieve mastery with Quizlet, we'll see about that.

[jen1134]

Re: Prima Latina Test

We still haven't taken the first test either, but we have started doing the 'tests' on Quizlet for practice. You can customize them - start with multiple choice and move to fill in the blank. My youngest thinks it quite fun, and she is determined to make it to 100%. I rather like Jessica's idea of skipping the tests for Prima, so if we can achieve mastery with Quizlet, we'll see about that.

Good point -- I should have clarified that we didn't do any testing in Prima either. Just an oral recitation at the end of the week where I would give either the Latin word or the English translation. Even though I was using Prima with a 4th, 6th and 7th grader, I wanted to keep it simple and just focus on the exposure to Latin. It seems to have worked. They're all in LC or FFL now, depending on age, and actually enjoying Latin even though we're now doing all the drills, quizzes and tests!