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Review: Test Prep Grade 1

Finding the right end-of-year assessment can be a daunting task, especially when you’re looking to confirm that your kindergartner has truly retained the year's information. I quickly discovered that dedicated kindergarten booklets are surprisingly rare, which led me to the Test Prep: Grade 1 (Flash Kids Harcourt Family Learning). While it is technically a first-grade resource, its layout is incredibly accessible for students ages five and up. This workbook doesn’t just evaluate one subject; it assesses a wide range of cognitive and academic abilities across 13 units, making it a comprehensive "one-stop shop" for year-end peace of mind.

The journey starts with a deep dive into word study, which our daughter navigated with ease. It covers essential phonics skills like rhyming and matching beginning sounds, as well as choosing the correct word to represent a picture. From there, it moves seamlessly into reading comprehension, where the student reads a short story and answers questions to prove they’ve actually absorbed the narrative. The instructions are remarkably clear, which is a lifesaver for parents like me who want to ensure the test is administered correctly and fairly.

As a fan of all things mathematical, I was particularly impressed with the math section. It goes beyond simple computation to test the process of problem-solving. For example, it might ask your student to identify the specific question being asked or the facts provided before arriving at the final answer. It covers everything from place value and measurement to more advanced concepts like solving for the unknown—a topic I always thought was reserved for much older students! To keep the experience low-stress for our five-year-old, I often act as her scribe, writing down her verbal answers so she can focus on the logic rather than the physical act of writing.

One of my favorite portions is the vocabulary and logic section. I’ll read a sentence aloud, and she has to explain the meaning of a specific word or pick the picture that best matches the prompt. Because the pages are in vibrant full color, it feels more like an activity book than a dry exam, which is crucial for keeping a young child’s attention. The book includes study units and practice tests to help "brush up" on skills, allowing for a gradual buildup to the final assessment.

In our homeschool, I never explicitly tell our daughter she is "taking a test" to avoid any self-consciousness or pressure. I only celebrate her success once we’re finished, and this Harcourt booklet has made those celebrations frequent! It has confirmed that she isn’t just memorizing facts but is genuinely developing a strong academic foundation. If you’re looking for a high-quality way to assess your student or just need some extra enrichment, I highly suggest checking out this series and the other amazing kindergarten kits available through Timberdoodle.

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