But what if he does worse?

So as the scheduled date for my sons WJ test approaches, I find myself wondering.

What if Dude does worse this year than last?

What if he still can't capitalize or punctuate (he did just write an article for the Scout newsletter including no capital for the word I, and many other mistakes).

What if the test shows he lost knowledge over the year, or what if he just wont concentrate, since I prolly will be having a baby that week, I might not be there, and Dude goofs off more with his Dad than with me.

What if .........

These are the sort of questions tests create.  While on a normal day I am certain my children are all doing great academically, bring up the idea of a test, and I start to wonder, just how bad their weaknesses are, and if I am doing enough to shore them up.  Or if I am allowing them to push ahead without enough practice at the basics.

Generally not being tied to grade levels is good for us.  We explore all we want in all areas we want, and we enjoy blinding speed at whatever the kids are good at, while slogging on through anything they just might need for adulthood (really Dude will need to know how to capitalize "I" even if just so I don't cringe whenever he updates a status on the 2020 version of FB!)

BUT not being tied to grade levels, means I have no handy dandy checklist to assure everything is just fine.  I can see from my AO reading list I am slightly behind (but I have all summer of nursing a baby and reading to my kids after a swim to catch up)  I can't see anywhere if I am 'on track', behind, or ahead for the rest of the kids education.

I don't know where I am supposed to be, so how can I assure myself I am there?

Just like with a baby learning to walk or talk, so long as they are progressing, we are prolly on track.  But oh a nice handy checklist would make late night 'can't sleep because no amount of pillows can comfort a 9 month pregnant lady' worry go away.