Testing is fun at GPA!

At Galileo Preparatory Academy, we believe testing shouldn’t be about ranking students against each other or training them to fill in a bubble sheet. We use testing to understand how our learners are growing. Tests and assessments should be one of many tools used to help learners, not something that causes them stress. They help us to see where a learner is thriving and where they may need support.

Instead of several days full of tests to measure learning progress, we do two tests (math and English language arts) across two days. These tests are not timed but generally take our learners less than an hour to complete. We do this once in the fall and once in the spring. These are not high-stakes, high-pressure days. 

We do not believe in teaching to a test. Our learners demonstrate mastery in various ways throughout our curriculum. The tests we do twice per year only help us ensure we are teaching our learners the information needed.

On testing days, we let our learners know the schedule and any changes they may see compared to a normal day. We encourage comfortable clothing, snacks, and lots of outdoor play! They use the same laptops and headphones they use on a regular basis, and the tests are proctored by their usual guides.

We also love to celebrate our learners during testing! We are grateful to the GPA parents who bring in treats for our learners and to our guides for creating fun games. Our learners particularly enjoyed wrapping each other up as mummies this week during a break.

At GPA, testing isn’t the focus of learning. It’s just one way we ensure each learner is receiving the support and encouragement they need. Interested in learning more about Galileo Preparatory Academy? Contact us today at admissions@galileoeducation.com or 615-853-1305.