Meredith and I have our semester Algebra Exam tomorrow. At another time in my life (like 28 years ago or so), I would hyperventilate at the thought. Thankfully, time and practice have given me a different perspective on what was once my biggest academic nightmare.
I spent a good portion of this morning reviewing my lesson notes before realizing that our Algebra program offered an Alternate A and B Semester exam. I excitedly suggested to Meredith that we take advantage of the multiple exams and use the first one as a review. I figured we could use it as a study tool and then take the Alternate A or B exam for the actual test.
Meredith was onboard, and everything was a “go” until Kenny. Insert dramatic sigh here. He informed us of his thoughts that our plan was the equivalent of cheating. His exact words were, “You’re joking, right? Because that’s cheating.” Mind you, he has a unit exam to take as well, so he wasn’t just saying this for us, but for himself too–no double standard for this boy.
For the next hour (No, I’m not kidding.), the kids and I engaged in an at times, heated debate about cheating.
For instance, I proposed that Meredith and I were practicing resourcefulness, which is not the same as cheating. “The second and third exams are entirely different. We won’t be taking the same exam at all.”
Then, Kenny came back with the idea that taking the first exam as a review gives us a strong understanding of what Monarch intended to include and by default, not include, on the semester exam. In other words, he felt that we would have an advantage in the second exam we would not have in the first. “You’ll do better because you’ll know what to study and what not to study.”
Meredith and I both reminded him that the review notes told us what to study. A quick scan showed us that the review suggested we study everything, so that point wasn’t worth the breath it took to make.
Meredith argued that our ultimate goal was knowledge, which meant understanding what we know and don’t know; therefore, cheating wasn’t even an issue. Knowledge was the name of the game. “We want to LEARN Algebra, not just test well, Kenny!” she added.
Kenny, rolling his eyes and giving us the “Really?” look, voiced that anyone can appear as though they understand something when they have advance notice of what questions may be asked.
I had to laugh when he said, “It’s a false positive.”
False positive?
Look who is using Science to support his Math arguments.
After a while, I disengaged in the argument and sat back to listen to those two skillfully and fairly debate the issue. I found myself nodding at both of their viewpoints and wondering who would “win” in the end.
And then, Meredith said, “What does it matter what Momma and I choose to do?! If you don’t want to do what we decided to do, you can take the first exam. YOU don’t have to use it for a review.”
The house became quiet, and Kenny said, “I’m not sure that’s what I want to do though. Maybe a review would make me feel better.”
And we ALL started laughing at that point. It became clear that Kenny was just arguing for the sake of arguing (or perhaps to procrastinate his other lessons).
So, tomorrow the three of us intend to use our first exam as a review. Then, we’ll study what that review shows us we don’t know. And on Thursday, we’ll take our semester exam.
And for those wondering why we are taking semester exams at the tail-end of February, remember that we started school two weeks late and still took a normal Christmas Break.
Do you take exams in your homeschool? I let the kids use any notes they’ve taken for quizzes (because I want to teach them the benefit of taking good notes). When taking exams, they have to study and go “notes free”, which means I have to go “notes free.”
Oh, heaven help me.
Heather Sanders is a leading homeschooling journalist who desires to inspire families to live, love and learn. Married to Jeff, Heather lives in the East Texas Piney Woods where she currently homeschools three kids using Monarch, an online homeschool curriculum.