Counselor's Corner
April 2023
Counseling Monthly Focus
No matter what your personal feelings on high-stakes testing are, there is no escaping the reality that these assessments will be an important part of your child’s academic experience. Everyone wants to see their student experience success in the classroom. With State Testing coming up (3rd-6th grade) it is important to support our students the best way we can.
As Parents/ Guardians , there are ways to help our students consistently perform his or her best on school tests:
- Prioritize attendance and homework-Tests are ultimately intended to be a measure of how well students have learned the material being taught in class. With that in mind, what is the best (and most straightforward) piece of test-prep advice for caregivers is to do what you can to ensure that your child is fully engaged with his or her classwork throughout the year. Set aside dedicated homework time each night to make sure that your child is completing their assignments consistently throughout the year. It’s also a good idea to periodically reflect on your family routine, and make sure you and your student are keeping a schedule that gets them to class on time every day. If your student is absent for a day, or has to miss a class period, check in with them to make sure they can make up what they missed.
- Communicate with teachers-Regular communication with your child’s instructor can help you gain insight into his or her progress. Make a point of meeting or talking with your child’s teacher on an ongoing basis to understand what your child is working on, what he or she will be tested on, and the areas that he or she is exceling and struggling in. Your child’s teacher is also a great resource for test-preparation practice or strategies you can use with your child at home. Plus, they can keep you up to date on group study sessions or other opportunities for additional review that your child may benefit from.
- Talk to your child about test taking- The purpose and goals of testing are not always obvious, even to the students who take them. Especially with new test-takers, it’s easy to be intimidated by testing or simply not feel motivated to put forth a lot of effort. Have open, ongoing conversations with your child to explain the benefits of testing, focusing on how it helps them, their teacher, their school, and other educators understand their strengths and weaknesses and figure out the most effective ways to teach. You can also use this opportunity to ask your students how they feel about testing and offer reassurance or perspective if they have any anxiety around exams.
- Offer positive reinforcement- A little encouragement can go a long way in helping students walk into testing days feeling confident—which, in turn, can have a huge effect on their performance. Praise your child for the work that he or she does to prepare for testing and share in his or her excitement when he or she has success with a new concept or skill. Similarly, when he or she is struggling with a topic, point out the progress that he or she has made and encourage him or her to continue working. Having already experienced success with the material that he or she will be tested on will help your child avoid test anxiety and perform to the best of his or her ability on testing day.
- Support healthy habits- Sleep and nutrition can have a huge impact on your child’s ability to focus and retain information. One of the most helpful things that you can do as a parent is focus on supporting these basic needs. Well-rounded meals and a regular sleep schedule will help your child succeed in the classroom on a day-to-day basis. On testing days, it’s especially important to make sure that your child gets a good night’s sleep, starts the day with a filling breakfast, and goes to school with a water bottle to help stay hydrated.
- Give your child a study space-A comfortable, dedicated space for homework and studying can work wonders for your child’s productivity. Make sure that your child’s space is quiet, well lit, and stocked with the right materials, like a writing surface, pens, pencils, highlighters, scratch paper, a calculator, and any other tools that he or she might need.
- Keep testing in perspective-No single test is that important. Avoid putting too much emphasis on your child’s test scores—doing so can make your child feel pressure that will ultimately only affect his or her performance negatively. It’s also important to not be upset by a single test score. Low test scores can occur for any number of reason, it may have just been an off day for your child.
- Debrief after the test- After testing day has come and gone, talk with your child about his or her results and how he or she felt about the test. By discussing his or her answers, thought processes, and feelings, you can gain further insight into what he or she is struggling with and excelling at and then help him or her better prepare next time. Talking about testing can also help your child process the experience and overcome any anxiety that he or she might have had.
Happy Healthy Kids TIP:
Here are some strategies that may help reduce your students test anxiety. Take some time to share and review with your student:
- Count to 10. If a question is challenging, stop and count to 10. Give your brain a small break. Then, try again!
- Take Deep Breaths. If nervous or worried thoughts and feelings come in, stop and take a few deep breaths. You can even imagine your worries leaving your body each time you breath out.
- Talk It Out. Talk out your feelings, thoughts, and worries about the test with a grown-you trust. Who is a safe person that you can talk to?
- Use Positive Self-Talk. Thinking positive thoughts and reminding yourself that you are smart, capable, and brave is so powerful! During the test you can tell yourself: " I can do this!, I am smart!, I've got this!"
April- Upcoming Events
4/7- No School
4/13- NEU/AVID Parent workshop 5:30pm in our Library (available to all parents)
4/14- Coffee with Counselor 8:00am (via zoom)
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/88492811078?pwd=d29hTDdsOTlZRHRvNXVlalNqazJMUT09
4/14- Side Walk Chalk Art (student activity)
4/21- Coping skills Fortune Teller (student activity)
4/28- Yoga (student activity)
*Schedule subject to change without notice
MTSS-B Data Update (March 2023)
Monthly Counseling Room Student Sign-Ins: 553 students (recess and lunch)
Friday Activities-
3/3- Yoga - 39 students
3/10- Make/Decorate Your Own Journal- 33 students
3/17-Positve Affirmations ~Create Your Own Luck~35 students
Tier 2 Interventions
-Small Group
23 students in Small Group
4 student exited
90% of students showing progress in small group setting
-CICO (Check-In/Check-Out)
23 students in CICO
2 student exited
95% of students showing progress in CICO intervention
Tier 3 Interventions
8 students in Tier 3 interventions
1 student exited
(Small Group/Behavior Focus Plan)
88% of students showing progress in Tier 3 intervention
Let's Connect!
Daniela Rodriguez
K-12 Intervention Counselor, MTSS-B
Levi H. Dickey Elementary
Daniela_Rodriguez@chino.k12.ca.us(909) 947-6693