Testing 1,2,3 (Grade Three Testing) |
When elementary school student Carrie Ellis wrote her first set of standardized tests, her results were not very good. As the school year progressed, Carrie followed the same pattern, doing well in her daily school work, but poorly when it came to being tested on the material. Carrie's scenario is not uncommon among today's school aged children. In fact, with all the testing that kids are being put through now, it's not hard to see why many of them develop anxiety. Here are some tested tricks to help your child become more test savvy.
- Look for the signs – If you're child seems to be doing well during the regular assignments in school, but badly when it comes to examination time, there may be a problem. A child who studies and is prepared at home but then fails when it comes to the test, may be suffering from test-anxiety.
- Reassure your child – Let your child know that these feelings of anxiety are very normal and that many kids feel nervous before a test. Make him understand that it is nothing to be ashamed or worry about. These feelings are part of the learning process and can be dealt with.
- Talk it over – Discuss your child's worries or concerns with her openly. Find out what it is about the testing process that upsets her. Listen carefully to her answers and respond with words of encouragement and understanding. Let her know she can come to with her problems.
- Remind your child that it's just a test – Although tests and exams are an important part of school work, let your child know that doing poorly isn't the end of the world. Assure your child that even if he fails a test, he will have other opportunities throughout the school year to show what he can do.
- Share your own experiences – Relate your own feelings of insecurity from your school days or use an example from of resent experience. For example, tell them about preparing for a presentation you had to give at work and how you went totally blank when it came time for you to speak.
- Help develop strategies – Let your child know that there are ways to get through a test without panicking. Teach him how to take the time to look over the test and decide what he wants to tackle first. Explain that the questions can be answered in any order he wishes and to start with the ones he feels most confident with and proceed from there.
- Examine study habits – Sit down with your child and observe how she studies. Help your child learn to get the most out of her study time. Teach her to study in intervals, taking breaks when needed. You may even want to enlist the help of your child's teacher or a tutor to help her along.
- Teach them to relax – Show them how to remain calm when the anxiety sets in. Deep breathing exercises are an ideal way to control a stressful situation. Instruct your child to close her eyes and breathe in deeply through her nose - then exhale slowly through her mouth.
