Standardized testing season can be intimidating, but with a little preparation and the right attitude, you can keep stress from getting to your children! All parents want to see their student(s) perform well in school. Parents play an important part in helping their children give their best performance on a test. The ideas presented below may serve as a guideline for parents when helping their student(s) prepare for testing.
During the weeks leading up to the TEST begin to talk with your child about the importance of giving their best effort during testing. The following thoughts will help you in preparing your child for being ready to give the test his or her all.
Before the Test:
- Help your child get to bed on time. Research shows that being well-rested helps students do better.
- Help children resolve immediate arguments before going to bed.
- Keep your routine as normal as possible. Upsetting natural routines may make children feel insecure.
- Mention the test to show you’re interested, but don’t dwell on it.
- Plan ahead to avoid conflicts on the morning of the test.
The morning of the test:
- Get up early to avoid rushing. Be sure to have your child at school on time.
- Have your child eat a good breakfast but not a heavy one. Research shows that students do better if they have breakfast before they take tests.
- Be positive about the test. Acknowledge that tests can be hard and that they’re designed so that no one will know all of the answers. Explain that doing your best is what counts. The important thing is to make your child comfortable and confident about the test
- Relax your mind before the test begins.
Tell Your Child to follow these Strategies During the Test:
- Read the instructions carefully.
- Read each question carefully, paying attention to details.
- Pay attention to time passing in relation to the time allotment.
- Don't get distracted by other testers in the room.
- Eliminate the answers that you know are wrong.
- If you come across a question that is difficult, don't spend all of your time on it. Move on and come back to it at the end.
- Don't second guess yourself by changing your first answers unless you are 100% certain.
- Don't fall into the trap of looking for patterns in the answers. There really can be three (or more) "C" answers in a row.
- When you are finished, look closely to make sure that you haven't overlooked any questions.
JUST DO YOUR BEST!!!!
After the test:
- Talk to your child about his or her feelings about the test, making sure you acknowledge the effort such a task requires.
- Discuss what was easy and what was hard; discuss what your child learned from the test.
- Discuss what changes your child would make if he or she were to retake the test.
- Explain that performance on a test is not a condition for you to love your child. You love your child just for the person he or she is.
(from: https://www.smore.com/n/fp0z3-test-taking-strategies)
After School Building Access
As the weather gets nicer, more students and families will choose to stay and play on the grounds before and after school. Remember that the building is only open from 8:30 to 3:30. Staff cannot admit students and families into the building to use the restroom or water fountains, check the lost & found, or pick up non-essential forgotten items.
If you are enjoying the grounds or play equipment, have a plan for restroom breaks: use the bathroom before leaving the school building, walk home, or possibly visit a nearby friend's house with permission. Students can get a drink after class, or bring a filled reusable water bottle. Forgotten items can be picked up the following day.
Students who are participating in on-site SUN activities after school should reach out to the SUN office with any requests after regular school hours. Happy Spring, enjoy the weather!
