For homeschool moms of high school students, finding curriculum is one of the biggest summer jobs (and stressors). I created a FREE year of lesson plans for biology for the homeschool community, but until this week, all of the exams were only available with the individual Unit Bundles or the Complete Biology Curriculum Bundle. I finally had time to compile all 12 of the unit exams into one file to share:
High School Biology for Homeschool Exams Bundle
This set of 12 unit exams and answer keys is a HUGE time saver for homeschool parents, co-op leaders, and classroom teachers who are using the NSHR lesson plans for biology. Each unit exam coordinates perfectly with the topics covered in each unit of the free biology lesson plans.
Why is this such a huge time saver? Is it worth paying someone else to write exams?
Writing exams takes time. Sometimes the curriculum that I choose to purchase does not come with exams and I have to create them. As a certified science teacher, I feel confident in my ability to create exams to assess student learning. However, for subjects such as history, it is a more daunting task. It takes a lot of time for me to go through individual units to create the exam and then wonder if I am even assessing the concepts. For me, it is worth paying someone outside of my area of expertise to write the exams, as long as they coordinate with the curriculum.
Why do the exams need to coordinate with the curriculum?
Exams should assess student learning. If a student completes a unit, the exam should only cover concepts, skills, and vocabulary covered in the curriculum up to that point. Using a general exam not aligned to the curriculum is frustrating and defeating to students and teachers alike.
Why should homeschoolers assess students anyway?
Tests, quizzes, and exams are not “gotcha” methods of teaching or meant to punish students. They are tools to assess student learning and look for “weak spots” in instruction. This is another reason that exams should be aligned to the curriculum: to look for weaknesses in teaching methods or materials. Assessments give as much information about the teaching as they do about the learning. If you want to provide the very best education for your student, please take the time to assess their learning and adjust when necessary.
As you are shopping for curricula this summer, keep assessments in mind. Student learning can also be assessed through projects and presentations, which will require time adjustments to lesson plans. Examine the needs of your student and your time for each unit. For when exams are needed, consider whether you have the time to create your own or whether the investment needs to be made to purchase aligned tests for the curriculum.
