Parents/ Guardians,
As we move into the testing season for both NWEA and M-STEP, here are some important things to remember:
1. Learn to Stay Focused:
Make sure your child knows what they’ll need to stay focused. If they need a drink of water, tell them to get it. If they need a snack, let them have it. They need to be comfortable so they can stay focused on the task at hand.
“Staying focused is a big deal. If they are looking around the room, it doesn’t measure what they know."
2. Read the Questions First:
Preparing for a test is not an overnight deal and reading skills are important. Students need to be able to read to follow directions and understand what is being asked in these tests (especially on story problems).One suggestion is for students to preview the questions before they read the informational paragraph. That way, students know what to look for in the reading portion and can better find the detail that will help answer the questions.
3. Key Words in Directions:
Coach your kids to pay close attention to directions. One really handy tip is to underline key words. That way, their eyes can quickly go back to that core information as they puzzle through the questions that follow.
4. Get to Know Procedures and Terms:
Make sure your student is familiar with testing procedures – such as fill in the blank or multiple choice. Go over test terminology too, such as the difference between synonyms and antonyms and “greater than” or “less than.”
5. Encourage your Child to "Do Their Best":
Of course, the age-old advice to get a good night’s sleep and eat a good breakfast still stands, but they should be doing that every day. In addition, as the kids are leaving for school the morning of the test, parents need to keep a really positive attitude. This test is just a snapshot of how a child is doing on that particular day. Encourage your children to do their best. It’s only one test. If parents can get that idea across, it may help the kids relax.
Most importantly, please remind your child that we do not expect them to know every answer to every question. We do however expect them to put forth their best effort.
Thank you for your continued support. Please contact the school with any questions that you may have.
