End of Year Assessment: Part One Mom’s Perspective
So stressful.
That’s the honest truth about how end-of-year assessments can feel.
You sit down to look at the state requirements, comparing your child’s growth against a checklist, and it feels like a gut punch: they’re soaring ahead in some areas… and lagging in others. And suddenly, the questions come rushing in.
"Did I do enough?"
"Are they falling behind?"
"Am I failing them?"
You are not alone.
Sitting down and looking at those lists of all that your child should know and do can feel so daunting. What’s a good percentage to have completed? Do they need to have each item with 100% proficiency to mark them as complete in that area or is 80% the target, or something totally different?
As mom, I feel that if my child has not met 100% of the criteria then I am failing them. Rationally, I know this isn’t true. But it’s how I feel. Here’s how I speak to myself, and what I do to help overcome my mom-guilt and make assessments not just a task I slog through and beat myself up over, but rather a productive and even somewhat fun time to reflect and make plans for the year ahead.
Understanding Your State Requirements Without Losing Your Mind
First, yes, you do need to know your state's legal requirements. I highly recommend becoming a member of HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association) if you plan to homeschool long-term.
They offer clear, easy-to-read templates and breakdowns for each state’s rules. (And yes, it’s absolutely worth the membership.)
Here’s the key:
Find your state’s reporting requirements.
Understand the minimum expectations.
Then, use them as a tool, not a measuring stick for your worth or your child’s value.
Remember: educational standards vary wildly around the world.
In Finland, some of the best schools globally don’t introduce formal academics until age seven — no sight words, no addition tables, no pressure. Meanwhile, many U.S. states expect kindergarteners to read 100 sight words, skip-count to 100, and master phonemic awareness.
Perspective matters.
You chose to homeschool because you knew your child deserved more than a rushed checklist of achievements. Trust that instinct.
Structuring Your Assessment: Meeting Standards and the Real Picture
This year, I’m using a combination of a formal evaluation form and a portfolio to document my child’s learning.
Here’s how I balance both:
1. The Quantitative:
Evaluation Form: I use a structured rubric to summarize progress in core areas (language arts, math, social studies, science, art, PE, etc.).
Optional Achievement Tests: Especially for later years, I believe lightly incorporating standardized tests can be helpful, ensuring we stay aligned with college readiness if that's the path they choose.
Tip: You can often choose between a certified teacher review, a portfolio, or a test. Find the option that feels right for your child and your homeschool style.
2. The Qualitative:
Social-Emotional Growth:
She now independently tidies her "zones" (play and learning areas).
She helps her little sister without being asked.
She shows thoughtfulness, like bringing herself a napkin if one was forgotten at the table.
Academic Pride:
Her joy when solving addition problems
Her excitement at recognizing and writing numbers on her own.
Narrative Summary:
I write a short story of her year — her strengths, her challenges, her proudest moments.
Child Interview:
A simple Q&A where she reflects on her favorite memories, skills learned, and hopes for next year.
Photo Highlights:
A few pictures from nature walks, projects, art, reading time — the real memories.
How to Make Assessments a Beautiful Keepsake
(Not Just Another Task)
When you look back on this year — do you want to remember the checklists, or the moments that made you both light up? We try to keep:
A few treasured art pieces.
Quotes from things they said during lessons.
Their own reflections on what they loved learning.
Because I don’t know how long we will homeschool for. And I already miss the way she started this year singing the ABCs in her own out of order style. I want to give both my children and myself a record of how much they’ve grown, one that helps me to remember when the overwhelm hits that they are more than the checklist of topics for the year. Their is emotional, personal, physical and social growth to account for as well.
A Gentle Nudge for Completing Assessments
End-of-year assessments can feel daunting.
They can trigger doubt, comparison, and overwhelm.
But they can also be an opportunity: to pause, to honor, to celebrate, or to move on from what isn’t working.
You are not just checking boxes.
You are nurturing a whole human being — one full of ideas, emotions, creativity, and heart.
And that growth cannot be measured by any test.
You already have everything you need to tell your child’s story this year.
You lived it, day by day, moment by moment.
You were enough. And you still are.