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Q. How is this service different from others who administer the Woodcock-Johnson tests?

A. Piedmont Education Services' use of the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Achievement is different in the following ways:

1. Home-school and student/parent/teacher friendly
2. Based upon an educational philosophy recognizing the uniqueness of each child
3. A shortened adaptation of the achievement test battery that meets both student needs and state reporting requirements
4. Some additional curriculum counseling and consultation at no charge


Home-school and student/parent/teacher friendly

While starting out in the educational field as traditional classroom teachers and teachers' aides, Greg Munger and his wife, Bonnie, home schooled their four children for 14 years, teaching all the major subjects from Kindergarten through grade 12. All four children have now graduated from their home school high school and gone on to succeed in college, business and family life. In addition, the Mungers (both of whom administer the WJIII) have been in leadership in the home school community in North Carolina (having served two years as Administrative V.P. of North Carolinians for Home Education, eight years as assistant to the director for the NCHE Conference & Book Fair, and six years as president of their local home school support group, Forsyth Home Educators). Our services seek to support and strengthen families in many areas and many ways - whether they are involved in homeschool, private school or public school education - believing that God has given parents the right, privilege and responsibility to bring up their children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."


An educational philosophy recognizing the uniqueness of each child

It was during this time of leadership and personal home schooling for Bonnie and Greg (who also has enjoyed five previous years of classroom teaching, on both Elementary & Secondary levels, in both public and private traditional schools in NC & SC), that they developed their educational philosophy, based upon the biblical teaching of the uniqueness of each child, as found in Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

They believe that all children can learn, but just not in the same way nor at the same rate. There are different ways of perceiving and taking in information; different ways of ordering or using and processing the things we perceive; different ways of remembering, understanding and even of being intelligent. Too often, traditional classroom instruction is not, or cannot, be tailored to meet those differences. Learning problems often arise as a result. Home schooling, however, is the perfect environment to make those adjustments and tailor each student's education to his unique characteristics.

Now, with the help of the Woodcock-Johnson achievement tests, and based upon the various insights they have gained in their dealing with hundreds of homeschooling children, the Mungers seek to help parent-educators pinpoint and nurture those unique qualities in each of their children.


A shortened adaptation of the achievement tests

The full-length version of the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Achievement has twenty-two different subtests and can take as long as two and one-half hours to administer. While the complete battery of questions can be helpful in some instances, it is our opinion that the full-length version is not necessary for the majority of students. Certainly there are times when the individual subtests give valuable insight into student behavior. However, we believe that several of the subtests are either repetitive, give similar results, or unnecessarily wear out the student. This is especially true of those children who have learning difficulties or other challenges; the very students who could benefit most by the tests are often the ones who are helped the least because of a long testing session.

Therefore, to help as many children as possible, to keep the cost of the test affordable to the majority of home schooling families, and yet still meet the reporting requirements of state home education law and the regulatory agencies, we have developed a shorter adaptation of the WJIII. By using fewer of the subtests, the total session for the average student is only about 45 minutes. And by being flexibly selective in the subtests presented, a wide range of student academic abilities can be measured, still providing in-depth parent-teacher guidance and fully meeting all state reporting requirements. Most students enjoy the relaxed pace and friendly, flexible administration of the WJII. Usually, the only students who don't do well on the WJII are those who, because of their unique learning styles, perform better on written, multiple-choice tests than on non-timed, flexible, verbal ones.


Additional home schooling counseling and consultation

Not only can we help parent-teachers better utilize the test results for their individual children as they comply with state home school law, but we can also provide additional home schooling counseling and consultation, often at no extra charge. At each testing session, we look for the student's learning styles and try to couple them with appropriate teaching methods. As may be necessary or requested, we offer suggestions for better teaching and evaluations of different curriculum available. We are often able to assess various physical or academic problems a student may have and then recommend outside professional help if needed. And through this website and our publishing arm, Heritage Media Services, we present workshops as well as audio/video and printed publications on various home schooling topics.